Feb. 5, 2002
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The newest member of the Patriot League, American University, was picked to win the 2002 Men's Tennis crown in a pre-season poll of League head coaches and sports information directors. Coaches and SIDs were not permitted to vote for their own team.
American was the first-place selection on nine of 14 ballots and finished with 65 points. In the fall individual championship, the Eagles claimed four singles titles. Senior Bence Hamori (Budapest, Hungary) claimed first singles, while fellow senior Josh Procacci (Naples, Fla.) won third singles and sophomore Guillaume Tarrelle (Paris, France) took home the fourth singles crown. Junior Andreas Kulcsar (Nuremberg, Germany) rounded out the list of AU winners with a victory in the sixth singles.
The two-time defending League champions, Army, received four first-place nods en route to 63 points. The tandum of senior Sonny Avichal (North Miami Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Jarrett Skrobarcek (San Antonio, Texas) led the Black Knights to the third doubles championship in the fall. Other returning All-League players from 2001 are junior Arnie Albornoz (West Babylon, N.Y.) and sophomore John Sabia (Wyndmoor, Pa.).
Navy (54 pts., 1 first-place vote), the third-place selection by the voters, returns a pair of All-League performers from a year ago in juniors Cameron Lickle (Weston, Mass.), who was named to the singles and doubles all-star teams, and Chris McGrath (Media, Pa.).
Colgate was picked to finish fourth by the voters with 43 points. The Raiders captured one singles title and two doubles crowns at the fall championship. Freshman Reed Hagman (Short Hills, N.J.) won the second singles, while Evan Paushter (Easton, Conn.) and Eric Sccullo (Manhasset, N.Y.), an All-League pick in 2001, teamed up to win the first doubles title in the fall. Junior Andrew Davis (Brattleboro, Vt.) and sophomore John Bedard (Attleboro, Mass.) laid claim to the second doubles crown.
Rounding out the poll are Lafayette (25 pts.), Bucknell (24 pts.) and Lehigh (20 pts.), finishing fifth through seventh, respectively.
2002 Pre-season Men's Tennis Poll
| Rank | Team | Points | 2001 Championship Finish |
| 1. | American | 65 (9) | n/a |
| 2. | Army | 63 (4) | 1st |
| 3. | Navy | 54 (1) | 2nd |
| 4. | Colgate | 43 | 43 |
| 5. | Lafayette | 25 | 25 |
| 6. | Bucknell | 24 | tied-3rd |
| 7. | Lehigh | 20 | tied-5th |
(#)-first-place votes
