CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Longwood men's tennis team has been chosen atop the 2026 Big South preseason poll and senior Timéo Puech was named preseason player of the year, the league announced on Thursday.

The Lancers, who have never finished higher than fourth in the preseason poll since joining the conference in 2013, were a unanimous selection for the top spot, garnering all four first-place votes and 16 points overall. 

Puech, a native of Maisons-Alfort, France, becomes the first Longwood player in men's or women's tennis history to be named preseason Big South Player of the Year, in just the third season for the award.

A four-time all-Big South selection — twice each each in singles and doubles — Puech won the Big South individual men's singles championship in October to advance to the 2025 ITA Conference Masters Championship in San Diego, Calif. 

Longwood finished ahead of Gardner-Webb (11 points), Presbyterian (eight) and UNC Asheville (five) in the voting, with associate members Bryant and NJIT not eligible for the poll as they are not playing a full conference schedule in 2026.

Longwood has advanced to the Big South tournament semifinals in the each of the last two spring seasons, finishing 7-11 overall and 1-2 in the league last year.

The 2026 season begins Jan. 29 at Navy. First serve is set for 10 a.m.