Feb. 3, 2010

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - With the return of a strong nucleus of student-athletes to the hard court, George Washington is the favorite to win the 2010 Atlantic 10 men's tennis championship in voting conducted by the league's head coaches.

Xavier, last year's A-10 champion, finished in a tie for second place with Saint Louis, while Temple was fourth in the voting.

George Washington brings back four All-Conference selections in 2010, including 2009 A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer Ugur Atalay. Joining Atalay is junior Yan Levinski, a first-team All-Conference pick a year ago, as well as a pair of second-team All-Conference performers in juniors Chris Kushma and Erik Hannah.

Xavier, under the guidance of 2009 A-10 Coach of the Year Eric Toth, will count on returners Chris Herrlinger and Bobby Deye as the Musketeers vie for their third straight league crown. Herrlinger was a second-team All-Conference honoree last season and boasts 27 wins in singles action over the past two years. Deye, also a second-team All-Conference pick in 2009, amassed a team-leading 18 singles victories in dual meet competition.

Ken Nordheim and James McArthur, both first-team All-Conference selections in 2009, will lead the way for Saint Louis. In addition to their excellent play in singles competition, the duo made up one of the top doubles tandems in the league, posting a mark of 14-4 last season. The Billikens will also rely on sophomore Jake Hendrie, whose strong freshman year performance earned him second-team All-Conference distinction.

St. Bonaventure is picked fifth, followed by Charlotte, Duquesne, Richmond, Dayton and Saint Joseph's. La Salle and Fordham finished tied for eleventh.

The 2010 A-10 Men's Tennis Championship will be held April 16-18 at Club 4 Life in Monroeville, Pa.

2010 Predicted Order of Finish
(2009 A-10 Championship finish in parentheses)
1. George Washington (3rd)
2. Xavier (1st)
(tie) Saint Louis (4th)
4. Temple (6th)
5. St. Bonaventure (2nd)
6. Charlotte (5th)
7. Duquesne (7th)
8. Richmond (Tie-9th)
9. Dayton (Tie-9th)
10. Saint Joseph's (8th)
11. La Salle (Tie-11th)
(tie) Fordham (Tie-11th)