STOCKTON, Calif. – First year Head Men's Tennis Coach Cliff Awuy has the mark for his team to beat when Pacific came in tied for fifth when the WCC Preseason Poll was released Thursday morning.

The Tigers tied the Portland Pilots in the poll, after ending the 2025 campaign in the semifinals of the WCC tournament following a thrilling victory over LMU in the quarterfinals.

Pacific returns a large core of its production from last season in sophomores Nico Rating, Vraj Patel and Jonty Giesen, and junior Christof Schaertlin Coffey. They are joined by senior Riley Hillenbrand and graduate Terence Das' returns from injury as well as the addition of three freshman in Hasith Gummuluru, Zhora Chetverukhin, and Reuben De Klerk.

The season officially starts on January 18 when Pacific welcomes Jessup to the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center followed by a neutral court match against UC Santa Barbara on January 23 in Los Angeles as part of the ITA Kickoff Weekend.

2026 Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. San Diego - 48 points (6)
2. Pepperdine - 44 (2)
3. Santa Clara - 37
4. LMU - 29
T-5. Pacific -20
T-5. Portland - 20
7. Gonzaga - 17
8. Saint Mary's – 9
 
2026 Men's Tennis Preseason Team
Gustavo Ribeiro de Almeida, Pepperdine
Maxi Homberg, Pepperdine
Stian Klaassen, San Diego
Lasse Poertner, Pepperdine
Oliver Tarvet, San Diego
Edward Winter, Pepperdine
 
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