FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Mary Washington was once again chosen as the preseason favorite in the 2020 CAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Eagles, who carry a 16-year CAC Championship streak into this spring, received all five eligible first-place votes and 25 points to land atop the poll.
Christopher Newport, which finished in second place for the fifth year in a row last season, earned one first-place vote and 21 points to take second place in the rankings. Salisbury was selected third with 17 points, followed by Southern Virginia (12 points) and York (10 points) as the projected fourth and fifth teams, respectively. St. Mary's (5 points) rounded out the six CAC teams in the coaches' poll.
Most CAC teams have now opened up their spring campaigns in the next couple weeks, with CAC play set to begin in March. The CAC Tournament will begin Friday, April 24, with the championship match slated for Friday, May 2.
2020 CAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
Rank |
Institution |
Points (First-Place Votes) |
| 1. | Mary Washington | 25 (5) |
| 2. | Christopher Newport | 21 (1) |
| 3. | Salisbury | 17 |
| 4. | Southern Virginia | 12 |
| 5. | York | 10 |
| 6. | St. Mary's | 5 |
Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2020 campaign:
1) The MARY WASHINGTON Returns five starters to a team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Heading the list of returners is three-time All-CAC selection and CAC Player of the Year in 2019, Rachel Summers. 2019 CAC Rookie of the Year, Lauren Quinn, is also back for the Eagles. Other notable returners include Claire Coleman and Rachel Cooper.
Number of Returning Starters: 5
Returning All-CAC Performers:
SINGLES
Rachel Summers, 1st Pos., CAC Player of the Year in 2019, First team All-CAC 2017, 2018, and 2019
Claire Coleman, 2nd Pos., First team All-CAC in 2019
Lauren Quinn, 3rd Pos., CAC Rookie of the Year in 2019, First team All-CAC in 2019
Rachel Cooper, 6th Pos., CAC Rookie of the Year in 2018, Second team All-CAC in 2018 and 2019
DOUBLES
Rachel Summers, 1st Pos., CAC Player of the Year in 2019, First Team All-CAC 2017, 2018, and 2019
Lauren Quinn, 1st Pos., CAC Rookie of the Year in 2019, First team All-CAC in 2019
Claire Coleman, 2nd Pos., First team All-CAC in 2019
2) The CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT women's tennis team will open the 2019-20 season ranked No. 30 in the nation and No. 6 in the Atlantic South Regional Rankings. Led by senior Johanna Ranta-aho, the Captains posted a 13-8 overall record and finished 2018-19 ranked in the top-25 nationally. Ranta-aho has led the way as the first two-time NCAA Division III Singles National Championship qualifier in program history and was ranked 31st in the nation last season. She has piled up 58 career victories, ranking third all-time at CNU, and has earned first team All-Conference honors three years in a row. Transfer Olivia Reed also returns to the lineup after collecting first team All-State honors and earning a regional doubles ranking in her first year at CNU.
3) SALISBURY returns four All-CAC players to the team in senior five-time all-conference honoree Annika Kezman, 2018 CAC Co-Rookie of the Year and two-time first-team honoree junior Sydney Soto, 2019 second-team All-CAC selection junior Laura Brown and 2018 All-CAC First Team player in senior Jordan Schaefer. As a team, the Sea Gulls finished the 2019 season 12-7 overall and 5-2 in CAC matches.
Number of returning starters: 4
Returning All-CAC Performers:
Singles: Annika Kezman (First Team in 2017, 2018, 2019), Sydney Soto (2018 CAC Co-Rookie of the Year, First Team in 2018)
Doubles: Annika Kezman (First Team in 2018, Second Team in 2019), Jordan Schafer (First Team in 2018), Laura Brown (Second Team in 2019)
4) After a 15-5 overall record and a 4-3 record in the CAC, the SOUTHERN VIRGINIA University women's tennis team will look to make a push in conference play this year after recording their best season in school history last year. The Knights return six of their top seven players with the addition of several key players that will look to contribute to a run in conference play.
Notable Returners: 6
5) The YORK Spartan women's tennis team went 7-1, including a Capital Athletic Conference win over Southern Virginia, during a very successful fall season. The Spartans were led by Chloe Doyle as she went 7-0 in singles play from the sixth singles position. Freshman Michalea Sentz stepped into the first singles role and went 3-5 in her first exposure to collegiate competition. Senior Gina Liguori finished 4-4 at second singles during the fall for York. Senior Maisie Supp was great at third single as she was 6-1. Hannah Shinsky went 4-3 at fourth singles while Lauren Ostermann finished 4-2 at fifth singles and 1-0 at fourth singles.
Chloe Doyle, Gina Liguori, Lauren Ostermann, Hannah Shinsky, Maisie Supp
6) The ST. MARY'S Women's Tennis team failed to win a match last season, but have shown improvement in the fall season finishing 1-2. The Seahawks return seven student-athletes and return six starters from last season. St. Mary's College welcomes newcomers Sydney Anderson, Christine Folivi, Hannah Gorel, and Bella Sterner to this year's roster.