Jan. 4, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s tennis team will open the 2012 season ranked 28th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) preseason poll that was released on Tuesday (Jan. 3).
Notre Dame, who is notoriously known for playing a tough schedule, sees 14 of this year’s 25 opponents in the top 68, including three in the top 10 and five in the top 17. BIG EAST foes Louisville (30th), USF (46th) and DePaul (68th) also dot the poll and schedule.
Senior Sam Keeton was the lone Irish player to earn a preseason ranking, checking in at No. 74. It marks the first time the Kansas City, Mo., product has earned a nod in the top 125 singles poll.
The Irish, who closed the 2011 season ranked 31st, welcome back nine Monogram winners from a year ago. They open the upcoming season on Jan. 15th, when they play host to Illinois State at 9 a.m. and Toledo at 6 p.m.
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