WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's tennis team has been picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office today announced. Only perennial favorites Quinnipiac and Fairleigh Dickinson were selected ahead of the Hawks.

Defending NEC Tournament Champion Sacred Heart was picked fourth, while Saint Francis (Pa.), Robert Morris, Mount St. Mary's, St. Francis (N.Y.) and Wagner rounded out voting.  

The Hawks are coming off a highly-successful fall season in which they earned favorable tournament results against perennially-powerful Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart and Bryant during the NEC MU Invitational in October.