Mary Washington was once again selected as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the CAC championship in 2016-17 in a preseason vote among the conference head coaches. UMW will aim to continue its conference-record streak this season, as the Eagles strive for their 27th consecutive CAC women's swimming crown this winter.

The UMW women's swimming team is the only team across all CAC sports to have won the team title in each of the 25 years of the CAC's existence.

The Eagles secured five first-place votes and 25 points to land atop the poll, while York received the other first-place vote and finished second in the poll with 20 points. Salisbury (16 points) was projected to place third, followed by St. Mary's (12 points), Marymount (11 points), and Frostburg State (6 points).

The 2016-17 season has already began for a trio of teams, with the other three set to open their campaigns this week.  

The 2017 CAC Championship meet is set for Feb. 17-19 at St. Mary's.

Here is a brief look at each team heading into the season:

FROSTBURG STATE head coach Justin Anderson enters his fourth season with the Bobcats behind a wealth of returning talent and one of the best seasons in program history.  Last season, the women broke 10 school records including five from junior Macey Nitchie. Along with Nitchie, Anderson returns school record holders in sophomores Maddie Weinberger and Emily Turner. FSU brings in two newcomers who will have an immediate impact in the sprint, mid-distance freestyle and butterfly events, which will give depth to the Bobcat roster as well as make the relays a top-threat in the conference. Adding to the depth, senior Sydney Fazenbaker and freshman Valerie Yoder will lead the Bobcats in the mid-distance and distance freestyle events.

MARY WASHINGTON will set its sights on its 27th consecutive CAC Championhsip this winter, and with returning NCAA Championship competitors Anna Corley, the CAC Swimmer of the Year, and Shannon Coryell leading the way, the Eagles will look to fly even higher in 2016-17. CAC champions Lauren Wood, Megan Murphy, and Michaela Miller will look to gain national cuts and extend the Eagles' impressive CAC mark.

MARYMOUNT head coach Mike Clark returns many of the teams All-CAC top performers from the 2015-16 campaign. Morgan Alston, Claire Cassidy, garnered All-CAC accolades and Kassidy Schmidt, Taylor Plumely, and Delaney Rodgers will return after leading the Saints last year in points at the league championships. The combination of top finishers led the Saints to a fifth place finish overall.

ST. MARY'S enters the 2016-2017 season being led by head coach Casey Brandt.  Coach Brandt comes from an extensive swimming career and has a background in junior nation and Olympic levels.  Junior Elzabeth Straathof, sophomore Elizabeth Valenti, and sophomore Hailley Baughman return to the Seahawks roster after receiving All-CAC honors in 2016. The Seahawks bring in four first-years and are excited to see their progress. 

SALISBURY looks to improve on its third-place CAC finish last season with a talented senior class led by Layne Gable, Claudia Guay, and Victoria Radcliffe. Radclilffe is a three-time All-CAC performer, earning second team honors in the 200 freestyle as a sophomore before claiming second-team honors in the 200 breaststroke and 400 medley relay as a junior, as well. Gable earned second-team All-CAC accolades last year as part of the 400-medley relay team, which returns all four members from last year.

YORK enters the 2016-17 with elevated expectations in year two of head coach Greg Doyle's tenure. Doyle returns a large group of experienced swimmers while a strong and dynamic recruiting class will provide York with much needed depth and talent. Doyle returns the CAC Rookie-of-the-YearMaddy Mann in addition to All-CAC swimmers Taylor Witte, Danielle Werner, and Kate McConaghy. Doyle has expectations for his six newcomers. He will look to freshmen Eanna Hehir Keys, Caitlin Campbell, and Julia Trudel and junior transfer Rachel Spaulding. Hehir-Keys will participate in the middle distance freestyle and breaststroke events. Campbell will score in the backstroke events for the Green and White. Trudel will give York points in the IM and mid-distance freestyle events. Spaulding will have the chance to compete for a CAC championship in the middle distance freestyle events.

2016-17 CAC Women's Swimming Preseason Poll