Longwood Tabbed Ninth in Big South Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Longwood University has been picked in a ninth-place tie in the 2014 Big South Conference Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the conference office.  Winthrop University was selected first in voting conducted among head coaches at the 10 member schools that sponsor the sport.  The Lancers, selected in a tie with Presbyterian College, will play their spring-opening match at the University of Richmond on February 1 at 2 p.m. in Richmond.

“I felt that we played well last year as a team, and we worked very hard during the fall to continue improving, but even still, the Big South is full of great teams, and if we want a better ranking, we know we will certainly have to earn it,” said first-year head coach Casey Wharton.  “I know our girls are looking forward to the challenge of trying to prove that ranking wrong.  I can’t say for certain where we will be at the end of the season, but I wouldn’t bet against us.  I believe that on our best day, we can compete with anyone, and if we hit our stride at the right time, we may turn out to be the team to beat.”

Winthrop earned eight first-place votes and 98 points while claiming its ninth-straight preseason No. 1 ranking.  Charleston Southern University had two first-place votes and 90 points to place second in the poll, ahead of Liberty University with 74 points.  In fourth with 70 points was Campbell University, followed by Coastal Carolina University with 68 points.  UNC Asheville landed at No. 6 with 47 points, while Radford University had 35 points for seventh.  Gardner-Webb University was selected eighth with 34 points, while Longwood and Presbyterian round out the poll tied for ninth place with 17 points each.

Longwood, who will host Liberty in its Big South opener on February 26 at 2 p.m., is expected to be led this spring by seniors Bethany Law/Ona, West Virginia, Sarah Moomau/Winchester and Nicole Parker/Richmond, junior Malin Allgurin/Värnamo, Sweden, along with freshmen Paloma Alatorre/Katy, Texas, Anna Pelak /McLean and Mason Thomas/Buchanan Dam, Texas.  Thomas was 6-2 during fall singles competition, followed by Law (4-2), Moomau (3-3), Alatorre (3-4), Pelak (3-5) and Allgurin (2-6), who has a career singles record of 40-25.

The 2014 Big South Women’s Tennis Championship is scheduled for April 14-18, and will be hosted by Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.