Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25

January 30, 2013

By Travis Rae, NAIA Communications & Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) sits atop the rankings in the 2013 NAIA Women'sTennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Warhawks received all 12 first-place votes for 312 points to secure the top spot.

The Warhawks are the defending national champions and return first team All-Americans Tiffany William and Jade Curtis, along with second team All-American Morgane Zowczak this season. William is currently rated as the No. 1 NAIA singles player by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), while Curtis and Zowczak team up to be the third rated doubles team.

The national runner-up, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) comes in at No. 2 with 302 points. The Eagles will look to replace first team All-Americans Yi Ching Chen and Rocio Frej Vitalle. Brenau (Ga.) comes in at No. 3 notching 292 points. The Tigers are led by junior Dominika Jasova, who is ranked as the fourth-best singles player in the NAIA by ITA. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Concordia (Calif.) come in at Nos. 4 and 5 with 276 and 275 points, respectfully.

No. 8 Westmont (Calif.) makes the biggest jump from last year's postseason poll, moving up 10 positions. Leading the Warriors are Nicci Yvanovich and Tara Yekrang, who are the ninth rated NAIA doubles team by the ITA.

A total of four teams are new to the poll after going unranked in the final rating: No. 14 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), No. 20 Bethel (Kan.), No. 22 Cumberland (Tenn.) and No. 23 Belhaven (Miss.).

Twelve of the 13 conferences/independents/unaffiliated groupings are represented in the pollwith the Southern States Athletic Conference leading all leagues with five Top 25 members: Auburn Montgomery, Brenau, No. 6 William Carey (Miss.), No. 15 Lee (Tenn.) and No. 23 Belhaven (Miss.).

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences/independents/unaffiliated groupings. The first regular-season poll will be announced on Feb. 19.

2013 Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25

RANK	LAST^	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	1	Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (12)	26-2	312
2	2	Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	23-4	302
3	6	Brenau (Ga.)	14-6	292
4	8	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	17-4	276
5	7	Concordia (Calif.)	15-8	275
6	9	William Carey (Miss.)	15-10	264
7	14	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)	8-15	243
8	18	Westmont (Calif.)	7-11	239
9	13	SCAD Savannah (Ga.)	9-4	233
10	15	Vanguard (Calif.)	7-11	226
11	16	Indiana Wesleyan	25-5	213
12	17	Campbellsville (Ky.)	14-8	205
13	19	Xavier (La.)	7-22	196
14	RV	Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)	12-8-1	179
15	20	Lee (Tenn.)	9-7	170
16	21	Robert Morris (Ill.)	19-3	168
17	23	St. Thomas (Fla.)	5-4	151
18	24	Oklahoma Baptist	10-8	142
19	25	Marian (Ind.)	21-6	129
20	RV	Bethel (Kan.)	15-6	115
21	22	Martin Methodist (Tenn.)	11-4	106
22	NR	Cumberland (Tenn.)	6-10	90
23	RV	Belhaven (Miss.)	14-7	78
24	RV	Nebraska Wesleyan	12-9	70
25	RV	Davenport (Mich.)	21-6	65

Others receiving votes: Webber International (Fla.) 61; Georgetown (Ky.) 59; Milligan (Tenn.) 56; Northwestern Ohio 36; Graceland (Iowa) 30; SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 17; Indiana Southeast 15; Hope International (Calif.) 11; Cumberlands (Ky.) 6; Missouri Valley 4.