Eastern Kentucky's Alex Das Izquierdo and Myriem Mhirit were ranked first on the Ohio Valley Conference preseason top 10 players list as voted on by the league's head coaches. Das Izquierdo topped the men's list followed by Morehead State senior Greg Anderson (Johannesburg, South Africa), Austin Peay senior Leonardo Locatelli (Pelotas, Brazil), Eastern Illinois senior Jeff Rutherford (Richmond, Ky.), Jacksonville State sophomore Brian Kenyon (Medesto, Calif.), Eastern Kentucky sophomore Hugo Klientovsky (Colombe, France), Eastern Kentucky sophomore Nik Schroeder (Erwitte, Germany), Eastern Kentucky sophomore Parul Verma (Chandigarh, India), Jacksonville State senior Chris Duke (Australia) and Murray State junior Renaldo Domoney (Cape Town, South Africa)
Mhirit earned the No. 1 spot on the women's side followed by Jacksonville State junior Viviane Marani (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Eastern Kentucky junior Anouk Faure (Versoix, Switzerland), UT Martin senior Martie Wahl (Cape Town, South Africa), Jacksonville State junior Martina Desbesell (Panambi, Brazil), Murray State senior Angela McGahee (Memphis, Tenn.), Austin Peay senior Mariana Pagen (Campos Salle, Brazil), Belisa de Brito (Curitiba, Brazil), Morehead State junior Madeleinne Antero (Santiago, Chile) and UT Martin sophomore Jodie Tiley (Cambridge, England).
Das Izquierdo, a junior, earned All-OVC first team honors last year after posting a 22-14 overall record and a 6-1 OVC mark at the No. 1 singles position. The Valencia, Spain native teamed with Carles Pons Escanilla to go undefeated in Conference play at No. 1 doubles. Das Izquierdo was named theOVC Freshman of the Year in addition to be selected the All-OVC first team in 2008.
Mhirit, a junior from Rabat, Morocco, went 8-1 in the OVC while going 25-9 overall at the No. 1-3 single positions last season. She also went undefeated in Conference doubles with Nadja Barz.
2010 OVC Men's Top Ten Player Rankings
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1. Alex Das Izquierdo, Jr., Valencia, Spain - Eastern Kentucky
2. Greg Anderson, RSr., Johannesburg, South Africa - Morehead St.
3. Leonardo Locatelli, Sr., Pelotas, Brazil - Austin Peay
4. Jeff Rutherford, Sr., Richmond, Ky. - Eastern Illinois
5. Brian Kenyon, So., Medesto, Calif. - Jacksonville State
6. Hugo Klientovsky, So., Colombe, France - Eastern Kentucky
7. Nik Schroeder, So., Erwitte, Germany - Eastern Kentucky
t8. Parul Verma, So., Chandigarh, India - Eastern Kentucky
t8. Chris Duke, Sr., Australia - Jacksonville State
10. Renaldo Demoney, Jr., Cape Town, South Africa - Murray State
2010 OVC Women's Top Ten Player Rankings
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1. Myriem Mhirit, Jr., Rabat, Morocco - Eastern Kentucky
2. Viviane Marani, Jr., Sao Paulo, Brazil - Jacksonville State
3. Anouk Faure, Jr., Versoix, Switzerland - Eastern Kentucky
4. Martie Wahl, Sr., Cape Town, South Africa - UT Martin
5. Martina Dessbesell, Jr., Panambi, Brazil - Jacksonville St.
6. Angela McGahee, Sr., Memphis, Tenn. - Murray State
7. Mariana Pagen, Sr., Campos Salle, Brazil - Austin Peay
8. Belisa de Brito, Sr., Curitiba, Brazil - UT Martin
9. Madeleinne Antero, Jr., Santiago, Chili - Morehead State
10. Jodie Tiley, So., Cambridge, England - UT Martin