Valparaiso University's men's tennis team has been picked to finish in second place behind five-time defending champion Oral Roberts in the Mid-Continent Conference in preseason balloting done by the league's head coaches.

Head coach Jim Daugherty's squad garnered 28 points, including two first place votes, to finish six points behind the Golden Eagles in the voting.

Chicago State and IUPUI shared the third place spot in the poll followed by Western Illinois, UMKC, and Centenary

First place votes earned six points in the poll on a scale that saw one point issued for a sixth place pick. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Crusaders will open up their 2006 regular season on Saturday, January 28 at Butler beginning at 2 p.m.

2006 Mid-Continent Conference Preseason Poll
Team - Points
1. Oral Roberts (4) - 34
2. Valparaiso (2) - 28
t-3. Chicago State - 21
t-3. IUPUI - 21
5. Western Illinois (1) - 19
6. UMKC - 15
7. Centenary - 9
(First place votes in parentheses)