TEMPE, Ariz. -- The first Oracle/ITA Division III Men's Tennis National Rankings were released on Thursday, listing Christopher Newport University at No. 33 in the preseason poll. The Captains are coming off a 14-9 season that saw the team finish the year ranked 34th in the country. 

The Atlantic South Region rankings were also released this week, with CNU tabbed the No. 8-ranked team in the area. Fellow Capital Athletic Conference foe Mary Washington is ranked No. 6 in the region and No. 20 nationally in the preseason rankings. 

Heading into 2018-19, the Captains were charged with replacing All-Conference graduates David Reed and Justin Cerny in the starting lineup. This fall, the rookie class led a strong performance in a pair of tournaments highlighted by Mason Kolls going 4-1 in both singles and doubles action. Sophomore James Baron led the team with five wins in singles play, winning his flight at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships. 

CNU will open the dual schedule this spring starting on February 9 against Virginia Wesleyan University at 5:00 pm. A stretch of four straight home matches highlights the schedule as CNU will take on Division I Longwood (Feb. 16), No. 15 North Carolina Wesleyan (Feb. 22), and No. 16 Johns Hopkins University (Feb. 24).