NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Under first-year Director of Tennis Eric Christiansen, the Christopher Newport University women's tennis team has been selected to finish third in the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll. The Captains picked up one first-place vote and were picked behind preseason favorites Methodist University and Meredith College. 

The 2013 season will be the last for Christopher Newport in the USA South, coinciding with the first for LaGrange College, Maryville College and Piedmont College. Methodist received eight of 12 first-place votes and 118 total points, as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting. Meredith grabbed three first-place votes and 113 points and the Captains captured the final first-place vote and 97 total points. 

Rounding out the top five was N.C. Wesleyan (93 pts) and Piedmont (69 pts), followed in order by Maryville, Greensboro, LaGrange, Ferrum, Mary Baldwin, Averett and William Peace. 

This season, the Captains women's team is anchored by a very deep veteran group led by Kim Morrissett. Morrissett played primarily at the No. 2 position last year, going 13-5 against opponents in that slot, and helped pace the CNU team to a 13-5 overall record. Senior Marion Gloor enjoyed her finest season to date with a 19-3 mark last year, playing at the No. 3 spot, and classmate Melisande Downs also posted double-digit victories as a junior. 

CNU will take the courts for the first time on February 8, as they play host to Division I Norfolk State. The 2013 USA South Women's Tennis Tournament will be played April 12-14 on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan as a part of the USA South Spring Sports Festival in Rocky Mount, N.C.

2013 USA South Women's Tennis Coaches Poll
Rank	Institution (1st Place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Methodist (8)	118
2.	Meredith (3)	113
3.	Christopher Newport (1)	97
4.	N.C. Wesleyan	93
5.	Piedmont	69
6.	Maryville	65
7.	Greensboro	59
8.	LaGrange	41
9.	Ferrum	39
10.	Mary Baldwin	38
11.	Averett	31
12.	William Peace	29