CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College men's tennis team was picked as the Big South's preseason favorite by the league's coaches, as announced by the conference on Wednesday. It is the first time that PC has been picked as a preseason favorite in any sport since its move to Division I.

The defending Big South Champions, led by third-year head coach Patrick Fediuk, totaled 49 points with three first-place votes to end up atop the preseason voting. The three first-place votes are tied for the most received by PC in the preseason poll. The Blue Hose also took three first-place votes in 2015 but ranked second behind former Big South member Coastal Carolina.

PC finished one point ahead of Campbell in second place with 48 points and one first-place vote. Winthrop was selected third with 46 points and two first-place votes. Gardner-Webb was fourth with 41 points and one first-place vote to round out the top half. Longwood was fifth with 40 points and Liberty came in sixth with 30 points and one first-place vote. UNC Asheville totaled 19 points and Radford earned 15 points to come in seventh and eighth, respectively.

The Blue Hose claimed both the Big South regular season and tournament titles last season en route to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. PC is a combined 17-4 against Big South opponents over the last two seasons, including a 5-1 record in the Big South Tournament.

PC opens the 2018 season on Saturday against Clemson in Greenville, S.C. at Furman University.