Preseason Women's Tennis Poll Favors Moravian

MADISON, N.J. – After claiming the first Landmark Conference Women’s Tennis Championship in 2008 the Moravian College women’s tennis team has been selected as the favorite to win the title again in 2009 according to the Landmark Conference Preseason Women’s Tennis Poll. The head women’s tennis coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsors the sport were polled for the preseason ballot.

The Greyhounds were a narrow favorite in the voting, collecting 53 points, just three points ahead of The University of Scranton which earned 50. The Catholic University of America was the next closest with 42 points to place third. Goucher College holds the fourth spot with 34 points in the balloting.

Moravian went 4-2 in the fall season after posting an unbeaten 6-2 mark in Landmark en route to claiming the title last season. The team has to replace several departed seniors from its regular singles lineup, but has five letterwinners back led by All-Conference performer Dyana Swan.

Scranton posted a 5-1conference record (9-7 overall) last season and reached the Landmark Championship match. They bring back three players who earned All-Conference recognition, including first-team singles pick Danielle Red and have four of their six regular singles competitors returning.

Reigning Landmark Player of the Year Rachel Tenuta will lead a Catholic team that has four of its six regular singles players returning from a year ago. Catholic went 3-0 during the fall after posting a 4-2 Landmark record and a 5-9 overall record during the 2007-08 season.

Goucher also had a strong fall season, posting a record of 4-2 after recording an 11-8 mark (3-3 Landmark) last season. All-Conference performers Carly Heinz and Chloe Scott-Giry are two of the four regulars back from the Gophers singles lineup of a year ago.

Juniata College picked up 21 points in the voting to claim the fifth position. Junior All-Conference performer Maggie Wolenter is one of five regulars returning to the team’s singles lineup after the squad went 1-5 in Landmark competition and 4-14 overall last season. The Eagles were 1-2 during the fall season.

Susquehanna University returns five letterwinners from the previous season in which they posted a 1-5 conference record along with a 5-11 overall mark as they captured 18 points to rank sixth in the voting. Senior Shelby Werronen had five singles wins last year and helped the team post a 3-2 mark this past fall.

Drew ranks seventh in the polling with 13 points after postinga 1-5 record during conference play last season to go with their 4-11 overall mark. They return All-Conference selection Michelle Gbelama from a year ago but will have to replace four of their six primary singles competitors.

Preseason favorite Moravian is scheduled to be the first team on the courts this spring as the Greyhounds open their spring season with a non-conference match against King’s Colleg (Pa.) on Feb. 28. Conference play will begin March 21 with Moravian hosting Catholic, Juniata welcoming Scranton and Goucher traveling to Drew.