The Penn State Harrisburg Women's Tennis team began their fall portion of their schedule going 2-4 prior to heading into conference play. Like the men's team, the Lady Lions are loaded with freshmen, six in total, and will look to senior Stephanie Harnden (Hershey, PA / Hershey) for leadership. The Blue and White will start their spring campaign off Sunday March 22nd at home when they take on the St. Mary's (MD) Seahawks.
Read the full CAC Preseason article below and check out Penn State Harrisburg in the CAC Preason video from at the 1:10 mark.
CAC Women's Tennis Preseason Webcast
WOMEN: Mary Washington Women's Tennis Picked By CAC Coaches To Extend Their 11-Year Streak Of Championships; Christopher Newport And Salisbury Picked As Top Challengers
Mary Washington won the first 11 CAC women's tennis championships – from 1991 to 2001 – then had that streak interrupted by Salisbury for two years before beginning another 11-year streak that includes the 2014 conference crown. Is this the year that streak is snapped again, or do the Eagles continue their run of titles?
The CAC preseason coaches poll predicts UMW to win their 23rd title in the 25th year of conference championship play. The Eagles graduated three-time Player of the Year Lindsay Raulston, but return more than a full lineup of experienced players to take a run at the 2015 crown.
Coach Patrick Catullo's squad collected the maximum seven first-place votes and a perfect 49 points in the preseason poll (coaches may not vote for their own team). The CAC coaches expect second-year conference member Christopher Newport (41 points, 1 first-place vote) and Salisbury (39 points) to be UMW's top challengers.
St. Mary's (30 points) and York (22 points), perennial playoff teams, were picked to gain the final two post-season berths in the five-team CAC tournament, but Southern Virginia (18 points), in its first season eligible for the conference playoffs, along with Frostburg State (17 points) and Penn State Harrisburg (8 points) figure to have an impact on the final regular-season standings.
Most CAC teams played in the ITA championship and a few non-traditional matches during the fall season. The spring season started with Mary Washington and Christopher Newport posting wins over NCAA Division I competition in early February.
The teams will battle through April to gain one of the five CAC playoff opportunities, culminating with the two finalists playing for the CAC crown and an NCAA automatic bid on Saturday, April 25.
For the full release, click here.
2015 CAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Mary Washington (7 first-place votes) 49 points
2. Christopher Newport (1 first-place vote) 41 points
3. Salisbury 39 points
4. St. Mary's (Md.) 30 points
5. York (Pa.) 22 points
6. Southern Virginia 18 points
7. Frostburg State 17 points
8. Penn State Harrisburg 8 points