CARMEL, Ind. – The Fightin' Engineers have been voted to win their third straight HCAC Conference Championship in the HCAC Preseason Poll.
Rose-Hulman earned 42 total points as well as all seven first-place votes that they were eligible for. Anderson placed second in the poll with 40 points and one first-place vote, while Transylvania rounds out the top three with 33 total points.
The Fightin' Engineers won the HCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships in each of the past two seasons. The team accumulated a 14-6 overall record in 2023-24, where they went 6-0 in the HCAC. RHIT would then post a 13-10 record, going 7-0 in the conference during the 2024-25 season.
Head Coach
Matt Wilson returns for his third season at the helm, where he has achieved a perfect 17-0 record against HCAC opponents during the regular season and playoffs. He returns all but one player from last season, which includes five All-HCAC honorees.
Sophomore
Tim Eckermann and junior
Ervin Perkowski each hauled in All-HCAC First Team honors following the 2024-25 season. Eckermann recorded a mark of 3-1 in singles play and 4-0 in doubles play against HCAC competition. Perkowski achieved an undefeated record in the conference as he went 7-0 in singles and 6-0 in doubles. He posted a 16-3 singles record during the 2023-24 season, where his 84.2%-win percentage ranks fourth in school history.
Sophomores
Ephraim Guthrie and
Eli McIntyre, and junior
Chris Lian were each named All-HCAC Honorable Mentions last year. Guthrie finished the season with a 5-1 overall record in doubles, Lian posted a 6-1 record at No. 1 doubles, and McIntyre achieved an undefeated 6-0 record in both singles and in doubles against HCAC opponents.
The Fightin' Engineers will open the season against Case Western Reserve on Friday, February 6, at 2 PM. Their first conference game will be on the road against Berea on Saturday, March 14, at 2 PM, and their Senior Day will be held during the regular season finale on Sunday, April 26, at 2 PM against Manchester.
HCAC PRESEASON POLL RESULTS:
1) Rose-Hulman – 42 (7)
2) Anderson – 40 (1)
3) Transylvania – 33
4) Earlham – 24
5) Hanover – 23
6) Franklin – 17
7) Manchester – 11
8) Berea – 6
