CLEVELAND, Ohio – The 2026 Horizon League Men's Tennis Preseason Poll was released Friday afternoon, with Cleveland State tabbed as the North Division preseason favorite.
Since splitting into a North and South Division four years ago, this marks the fourth straight time that the Vikings have been selected as the favorite in the North.
Cleveland State enters the 2026 spring campaign as the reigning Horizon League North Division Regular Season champions, after posting an 8-0 record in regular season matches. The Vikings also advanced to the championship match of the #HLTennis Tournament last season, marking the program's 13
th appearance in the title match under head coach
Brian Etzkin.
The Vikings return seven letterwinners from last year's team, including reigning #HLTennis Player of the Year
Lincoln Battle and All-League honorees
Cole Chappell and
Carl Gedlitschka.
Cleveland State will open the 2026 spring campaign on the road next weekend, traveling to Penn State (Saturday, January 17).
2026 #HLTennis Preseason Poll – North
1.Cleveland State (4) – 16
2.Youngstown State – 11
3.IU Indy – 9
4.Northern Kentucky – 4
2026 #HLTennis Preseason Poll – South
1.Belmont (3) – 15
2.Tennessee Tech (1) – 12
3.Tennessee State – 9
4.Southern Indiana – 4
