CHARLOTTE, NC--The Winthrop men's tennis team has been chosen to defend its Big South Conference championship as it nosed out Radford for first place in the annual preseason poll, as voted by the League's head men's tennis coaches.  

The Eagles have captured six Big South titles and have finished runner-up 10 times under head coach Cid Carvalho.  Winthrop has also made six NCAA tournament appearances.  The Winthrop men return five of its top six players from last year's championship team.

The Eagles totaled three first-place bids and 42 points.Following the Eagles in second by just one point was Radford with two first-place bids and 41 points.  In third with one top vote and 35 points was Coastal Carolina, one point ahead of Liberty, which received 34 points and one first place vote.  Gardner-Webb landed in the No. 5 slot with 20 points, while UNC Asheville's 15 points was good for sixth.  Rounding out the poll was Presbyterian College, which earned nine points.

Winthrop's men will open the 2011 season this Saturday, Jan. 12, against Hampton at 12 noon on Memorial Courts.