NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's tennis team opens up the 2017 spring season on Thursday evening, hosting the College of Staten Island at Binghamton Racquet Club. First serve is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

The Maccabees aim to win their fourth Skyline Conference Championship in a row and another automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Yeshiva is ranked #1 out of all the conference teams in the preseason coaches' poll, receiving seven first place votes and 62 total points.
 
2017 Skyline Conference Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank, Team (2016 Record / Conference Record) - Points (first-place votes)
1. Yeshiva (13-4 / 7-0) - 62 (7)
2. Mount Saint Mary (11-4 / 6-1) - 52 (1)
3. Farmingdale State (11-6 / 5-2) - 49
4. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (9-5 / 4-4 Landmark) - 43 (1)
5. Purchase (9-8 / 4-3) - 39
6. Sarah Lawrence (6-6 / 3-4) - 28
7. St. Joseph's-Long Island (3-8 / 2-5) - 27
8. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (2-10 / 1-6) - 15
9. Sage (0-11 / 0-7) – 9

Yeshiva went undefeated in conference matches last year and has won 15 Skyline contests in a row, dating back to 2015.

Leading the way for the Maccabees will be senior David Papis Elon, who is the reigning two-time Skyline Conference Player of the Year. The Herzliya native earned All-Skyline first team status and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Skyline Conference Championship match in 2016. Papis Elon went 11-2 in singles matches, all in the #1 position. He also went 11-1 in first doubles contests, and went undefeated in singles and doubles competition against Division III opponents. 

Another major award winner who is returning to the team is sophomore Mikey Ozery who earned Skyline Rookie of the Year honors, as well as a spot in the all-conference first team. Ozery made a big impact on the program in just his rookie season. He went 8-3 in singles contests, and cumulated an impressive record of 10-1 in doubles matches, including an undefeated record of 5-0 in the first flight.

Junior Charlie Friedman will look to build from last season, as he was named to the Skyline All-Conference second team. The Montreal native won eight singles matches and went 7-2 in doubles competition.

The reigning Skyline Conference Coach of the Year, Jon Rubinstein, has brought in five first year players in addition to eight returners.

A full Skyline Conference preview can be seen here.