Francis Marion University is picked to finish second according to the 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll released by the conference office on Friday (Jan. 23). 

Belmont Abbey College, winners of the past four conference tournament titles, is picked as the pre-season favorite by the league's coaches.

The Crusaders received 140 points and 10 first-place votes to finish just ahead of FMU, which received the final three first-place votes and tallied 123 points.

Converse University is ranked third with 117 points, followed by the University of Mount Olive (105), Emmanuel University (92), Barton College and Young Harris College (tied with 89 each), Lees-McRae College (80), North Greenville University (64), Shorter University and King University (tied with 34 each), Chowan University (31), and Ferrum College (16).

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Championship Tournament is scheduled for April 22-25 at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C.

The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they could not vote for their own school.

Second-year FMU head coach Laszlo Leiter welcomes back seven lettermen from last year's 12-7 squad that tied for second during the regular season and then reached the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Sophomore Miguel Maia, who posted a 13-6 singles mark and a 13-5 doubles record in his first year, leads the returnees.  Sophomore Diego Vega Espinosa, who was 12-4 in singles action last year including a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play, also returns.

Leading a group of four newcomers are junior Alexandre Frigout – a transfer from Western New Mexico University – and freshman Viktor Virághalmi from Szeged, Hungary.

Francis Marion opens its season at Coker University on Feb. 4 with a 1 p.m. first serve. The Patriots will play their first four matches on the road before hosting Augusta University on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.  The team's 19-match slate includes nine home contests and a 12-match conference schedule.

 
2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
No.      School (first-place votes)    Votes
1          Belmont Abbey (10)             140
2          Francis Marion (3)                123
3          Converse                              117
4          Mount Olive                          105
5          Emmanuel                            92
T-6      Barton                                   89
T-6      Young Harris                         89
8          Lees-McRae                         80
9          North Greenville                   64
T-10    Shorter                                  34
T-10    King                                      34
12        Chowan                               31
13        Ferrum                                 16