Savage Storm Men's Tennis Third in Preseason Poll

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will head into the 2024 season picked to finish third in the MIAA/GAC South Division Preseason Poll released on Wednesday.
 
The Savage Storm are coming off an 11-10 season in 2023 that saw them finish the previous iteration of the league makeup with a 1-2 record in division play, but despite a loss in the conference tournament was able to advance to the Central Regional due in large part to its strength of schedule.
 
The new makeup of divisions in the 10-team league sees Southeastern, Ouachita Baptist, Harding, Southern Arkansas, and Newman in the South division together, while Washburn, Northwest Missouri State, Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State, and Augustana make up the North division.
 
The Savage Storm picked up 24 points in the poll to finish third in the South, while Ouachita took home the top spot with 38 points and seven first place votes.
 
Harding was second with 32 points and three first-place nods, with Southern Arkansas in fourth and Newman rounding out the poll in fifth.
 
Washburn was picked to win the North division, followed by NWMSU, UNK, ESU, and Augustana.
 
SE returns a pair of first team all-conference selections in Juan Gonzalez and Marin Jurkovic, each of which earned first team honors individually and honorable mention honors as a doubles duo.
 
Thabo Ncube and Gen Naraya each picked up honorable mention honors as well and will be returning for the 2024 season.
 
Overall, SE brings back nine players off last season's team, while bringing in four new additions, all transfers.
 
SE is scheduled to open its spring season on Feb. 3 with an 11 a.m. matchup against Texas-Dallas followed by a 3 p.m. contest with Austin College, both at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.