SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Reigning Summit League men’s tennis regular season champion Denver was picked to claim the 2026 regular season title in the preseason coaches’ poll released Wednesday by League officials.
The 10-time regular season champion Pioneers claimed the top spot of the standings with 25 total points and five of six first-place votes. Omaha was selected to finish runner-up after capturing 18 total points and the remaining first-place vote.
Illinois State captured the third-place spot in the poll after receiving 17 total votes. Last year’s runner-up, North Dakota, shared fourth with Drake as both programs received 12 points while Oral Roberts rounded out the poll in sixth with six points.
2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
Denver |
25 (5) |
| 2. |
Omaha |
18 (1) |
| 3. |
Illinois State |
17 |
| T4. |
North Dakota |
12 |
| T4. |
Drake |
12 |
| 6. |
Oral Roberts |
6 |
MEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON ATHLETES TO WATCH LIST
Note: Athletes to Watch nominated by the league's head coaches
Samuel Rovai, Denver
So | Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2025 First Team All-Summit League honoree
- Finished last season with a 23-10 record (14-7 in duals)
- Notched an 11-4 singles record at the No. 4 spot
- Added a 10-8 record in doubles (13-4 in duals, 2-1 in Summit League)
Liam Spiers, Omaha
Gr | Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Transferred from San Diego State where he posted a combined 10-8 dual record in singles action last season from the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 spots
- Finished with 11 overall singles wins on the season
- Earned six doubles wins playing alongside Marc Kleber on courts No. 2 and No. 3
- Helped lead the Aztecs to the Mountain West finals and national ranking as a junior
Christian Capacci, Illinois State
So | Forlimpopoli, Italy
- Compiled a 13-5 record in singles play (4-1 in Summit League)
- Posted a 4-11 doubles record and a 3-0 mark in League action
- Defeated nationally-ranked Kyran Magimay of Notre Dame
- Won five consecutive Summit League matches from March 22-April 16
Leo Galliano, North Dakota
So | Chalais, Switzerland
- Earned the Summit League Newcomer of Year award following his freshman season
- Selected to the All-Summit League First Team
- Completed last season with an 18-4 singles record (4-1 in Summit League)
- Was 12-7 in doubles play with a 2-4 record in Summit League action
Christian Winstead, Drake
Sr | San Jose, Costa Rica
- Tallied a 3-4 record at the No. 1 singles
- Posted a record of 1-2 at doubles No. 2 and 0-1 at No. 3
- Compiled a 5-13 overall record between singles and doubles play
- Defeated FGCU’s Jonathan Baron and North Dakota’s Walker Valentine during 2025 fall season
Ricardo Filho, Oral Roberts
Sr | Uba, Brazil
- Competed at the No. 1 spot in singles action and compiled a 4-12 overall record (1-4 in Summit League)
- Posted a 3-1 record in Summit League doubles play
- Played at the No. 1 position in doubles and posted an 11-7 overall record at the top spot
- Named to the Summit League Honorable Mention team
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