MEN:
Mary Washington Men's Tennis Returns Veteran Lineup In Search Of 17th-Straight CAC Title; Christopher Newport And Salisbury Are Top Contenders In Preseason Poll
As 16-time defending champions, the Mary Washington men's tennis team is usually the easy pick in the CAC preseason coaches poll. This year, it may be even easier for the coaches to place UMW on top of the pack as the Eagles return a veteran lineup from a team that advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament third round in 2014.
Mary Washington was the unanimous choice to win the title among CAC coaches, gaining all seven available first-place votes and 49 total points in the poll (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team).
Christopher Newport, which gained one first-place vote, edged Salisbury for second place in the preseason poll. The Captains, who finished second in the 2014 regular-season standings, collected 42 points while Salisbury, which finished third but advanced to the conference title match for the ninth-straight year, gained 38 points in the preseason poll.
The coaches predict a great battle for the final two CAC playoff berths among St. Mary's (25 points), York (24 points) and Southern Virginia (20 points), which is eligible for the conference post-season tournament for the first time. SMC edged YCP for fourth place in last year's standings.
Several coaches predicted Frostburg State (14 points) and Penn State Harrisburg (12 points) would impact the playoff draw in 2015.
Most CAC teams played in the ITA championship and a few non-traditional matches during the fall season. The spring season started with Mary Washington and Christopher Newport posting wins over NCAA Division I competition in early February.
The teams will battle through April to gain one of the five CAC playoff opportunities, culminating with the two finalists playing for the CAC crown and an NCAA automatic bid on Saturday, April 25.
2015 CAC Men's Tennis Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. Mary Washington (7 first-place votes) 49 points
2. Christopher Newport (1 first-place vote) 42 points
3. Salisbury 38 points
4. St. Mary's (Md.) 25 points
5. York (Pa.) 24 points
6. Southern Virginia 20 points
7. Frostburg State 14 points
8. Penn State Harrisburg 12 points
WOMEN:
Mary Washington Women's Tennis Picked By CAC Coaches To Extend Their 11-Year Streak Of Championships; Christopher Newport And Salisbury Picked As Top Challengers
Mary Washington won the first 11 CAC women's tennis championships – from 1991 to 2001 – then had that streak interrupted by Salisbury for two years before beginning another 11-year streak that includes the 2014 conference crown. Is this the year that streak is snapped again, or do the Eagles continue their run of titles?
The CAC preseason coaches poll predicts UMW to win their 23rd title in the 25th year of conference championship play. The Eagles graduated three-time Player of the Year Lindsay Raulston, but return more than a full lineup of experienced players to take a run at the 2015 crown.
Coach Patrick Catullo's squad collected the maximum seven first-place votes and a perfect 49 points in the preseason poll (coaches may not vote for their own team). The CAC coaches expect second-year conference member Christopher Newport (41 points, 1 first-place vote) and Salisbury (39 points) to be UMW's top challengers.
St. Mary's (30 points) and York (22 points), perennial playoff teams, were picked to gain the final two post-season berths in the five-team CAC tournament, but Southern Virginia (18 points), in its first season eligible for the conference playoffs, along with Frostburg State (17 points) and Penn State Harrisburg (8 points) figure to have an impact on the final regular-season standings.
Most CAC teams played in the ITA championship and a few non-traditional matches during the fall season. The spring season started with Mary Washington and Christopher Newport posting wins over NCAA Division I competition in early February.
The teams will battle through April to gain one of the five CAC playoff opportunities, culminating with the two finalists playing for the CAC crown and an NCAA automatic bid on Saturday, April 25.
2015 CAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Mary Washington (7 first-place votes) 49 points
2. Christopher Newport (1 first-place vote) 41 points
3. Salisbury 39 points
4. St. Mary's (Md.) 30 points
5. York (Pa.) 22 points
6. Southern Virginia 18 points
7. Frostburg State 17 points
8. Penn State Harrisburg 8 points