BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Two Mid-South Conference men's teams are ranked, and two more are just outside the top-25 in the Postseason NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Poll, NAIA officials announced on Thursday.
Cumberlands (Ky.) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) are both ranked, while Bethel (Tenn.) and Cumberland (Tenn.) are in the receiving votes category, just outside the top 25.
Lindsey Wilson finishes 2026 at No. 6 in the poll, while Cumberlands ended at No. 7.
The Blue Raiders received 176 voting points from the national raters after reaching the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals. Lindsey Wilson ends the season with a 14-3 record.
Cumberlands picked up 168 voting points. The Patriots also reached the national quarterfinals, ending the season with a 17-8 record.
Bethel is the first team outside the top-25. The Wildcats received 21 voting points after ending the season at 12-10 and at the Mid-South Conference Tournament semifinals.
Cumberland is one of six teams outside the poll, but is receiving voting points. The Phoenix (8-13) garnered two voting points after making the MSC semifinals.
Georgia Gwinnett is No. 1 in the poll with 210 voting points, including all 11 first-place votes after winning the national championship. Tennessee Wesleyan is No. 2 with 203 points, followed by No. 3 Keiser (Fla.) with 196 points.
Poll Methodology
- The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
- A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
- The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
- 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
- The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
- Teams receiving only one point are not listed as "receiving votes."
- For the Preseason Poll, there is no "previous ranking" column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system.