AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Flagler College men's tennis team is the preseason favorite for the third year in a row, according to Peach Belt Conference Coaches' Poll that was released Tuesday morning by conference officials. Ilian Borlee, Simon Malis, and Aniss Rafiq were selected to the preseason all-conference team.

Flagler received five first place votes and tallied 35 points.

The Saints, ranked No. 3 in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Division II Coaches' Poll last week, finished last year with a 20-3 overall record and went 5-0 in league play. The Saints have won three-of-the-last-four regular season titles and the last two conference tournament championships.

Columbus State University received the other two first place votes and were picked to finish second. The University of North Georgia was selected to finish in third place while Lander University was slotted fourth. Georgia College & State University, Augusta University, and Middle Georgia State University were picked Nos. 5-7.

Borlee earned first-team all-conference honors in singles and doubles last year. The Brussels, Belgium native posted an overall record of 25-5, which included a 15-1 mark at No. 3 singles. He won the last 14 matches he played in a row. Borlee also finished with a 26-6 record in doubles and went 21-5 when paired with Malis. Both were named PBC Tournament MVPs in doubles. They were ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation.

Malis took home first-team all-conference accolades in singles and doubles last year. He was named the PBC Player of the Year. The Ostravia, Czech Republic native finished with a 24-4 overall record and was a perfect 9-0 at No. 2 singles. He won his last eight matches in a row. Malis went 26-6 overall in doubles, including the 21-5 mark with Borlee. He was ranked as high as No. 27 in singles last year.

Rafiq missed most of last year due to an injury. He posted a 12-5 record in singles and went 9-2 in doubles. Rafiq was 5-1 when paired with Malis. The Annemasse, France native was ranked as high as No. 8 in singles last year.

The Saints open the regular season at home Feb. 6 against Belmont Abbey College at 2 p.m. at the Pollard Tennis Center. They will play at the ITA Division II Indoor Championship Feb. 13-15 at Indianapolis, Indiana. Flagler opens conference play March 27 against North Georgia at the Pollard Tennis Center.


2026 PBC Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
 

Rank	School	Points
1.	Flagler	35
2.	Columbus State	30
3.	North Georgia	28
4.	Lander	21
5.	GCSU	12
6.	Augusta	11
7.	Middle Georgia	10

 
Preseason All-Conference
Samer Al Tori, CSU
Ilian Borlee, Flagler
Simon Malis, Flagler
Aniss Rafiq, Flagler
Chase Martin, GCSU
Harry Pugh, Lander
Pedro Liborio, North Georgia

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