YORK, Pa. -- The Capital Athletic Conference announced the results of the 2017 Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday, with the Christopher Newport women's tennis team selected to finish second overall. The nationally-ranked Captains (7-3, 1-0) will host the preseason favorite University of Mary Washington on Saturday with match time set for Noon.
CNU, under the leadership of fifth-year Director of Tennis
Eric Christiansen, picked up 43 points in the annual poll, in which coaches can not vote for their own team. CNU secured one first-place vote. The head coaches selected the Eagles (49 pts) as the favorites after they captured the program's 13th straight conference championship last season.
Salisbury (37 pts), York College of Pennsylvania (29 pts), and St. Mary's College of Maryland (26 pts) rounded out this year's top five, while Southern Virginia (19 pts), Frostburg State (14 pts), and Penn State Harrisburg (7 pts) complete the poll.
The CNU women have put together a historically impressive resume over the last two years, including climbing higher in the national rankings than ever before. This season, the Captains earned the second win over a Top 25 team in program history, downing No. 24 Redlands during the team's trip to California. Rookie
Johanna Ranta-aho has burst onto the scene to lead the way for Christopher Newport, scoring 12 wins in singles play and nine in doubles action. Junior
Claire Dockrill is 7-2 in dual action, and ranks second on the team in singles with 11 victories.
After start the year with a 2-3 mark, with all three losses coming to Top 20 opponents, the Captains have run off five straight wins to post a 7-3 overall record. The tough schedule continues on Saturday, as CNU hosts 15th-ranked Mary Washington at 12:00 pm.
The Eagles are 9-3 to start the year, and have also run off five straight victories. Mary Washington is also 1-0 in league play, after shutting out Salisbury in their first conference action of the spring. Taylor Diffley and Hannah Jabusch are leading the team with 15 wins in singles play, paired with just five losses. In doubles, Diffley and Kait Brogan are 11-1 in doubles, all at the top spot.
CAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Mary Washington (7 first-place votes) - 49 points
2. Christopher Newport (1 first-place vote) - 43 points
3. Salisbury - 37 points
4. York - 29 points
5. St. Mary's - 26 points
6. Southern Virginia - 19 points
7. Frostburg State - 14 points
8. Penn State Harrisburg - 7 points
