KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Union College starts the 2009 tennis season ranked 10th in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday by the organization.

Union collected 272 points, three behind No. 9 Concordia (Calif.) University.

The Bulldogs reached the Sweet-16 at the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship for a second-straight season in 2008. Union finished the year ranked ninth with an overall record of 16-3. In Appalachian Athletic Conference play, Union posted a perfect 5-0 record during the regular season and won the AAC Tournament along with the NAIA Region XII championship.

The 2009 season for Union starts Feb. 25 when the Bulldogs travel to University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) for a 2 p.m. match.

Auburn University at Montgomery (Ala.) tops the poll as the unanimous pick at No. 1. The Senators received all 14 first-place votes for a total of 374 points. AUM won their third consecutive national championship last season, the eighth in program history.

Coming in at No. 2 are the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University who collected 362 points. A tie for third features Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) as each receive 344 points. Rounding out the Top-5 is California Baptist University after earning 326 points.

Union was not the only AAC team to receive votes as Tennessee Wesleyan College starts the season at No. 35 thanks to six points.

The first regular-season poll will be released Tuesday, Feb. 24.

To view the complete poll, click here.