ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson women's tennis team has been picked to finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll, as released Wednesday by the league office.

In addition to the rankings, the doubles team of juniors Laura Dean and Jacqueline Olivia earned Second-Team All-SAC honors. After being paired together for the first time this fall, the duo won both matches and earned a No. 7 ranking in the Southeast Region.

Dean was also honored as a first-team All-SAC selection in singles. The Georgetown, S.C. native finished the 2017 season with an overall 15-7 singles record at the No. 1 position and dominated the two fall matches she played leading into the upcoming 2018 season. In November, she was ranked nationally, No. 46, while being ranked No. 10 in the Southeast Region.

Senior Ivey Welborn was also a first-team All-SAC selection in singles. Welborn played a huge roll in the Black and Gold's successful season posting a record of (15-3, 9-2 SAC) at the No. 3 position in singles action earning her All-SAC Second Team. The Anderson, S.C. native also posted a doubles record of (16-2, 10-1 SAC) which was vital to the Trojans finishing the regular season tied for second. During her career, Welborn has also played in the No. 1 and No. 2 slots posting a career singles record of (32-20, 17-12 SAC).

The Black and Gold enjoyed their best record in program history last season with an overall record of 18-5. Anderson's previous best win total was 15 which was achieved in 2015.

Tusculum, which collected five first-place votes and 101 points, shares the top spot in the poll with Wingate who collected four first-place votes and 101 points. Queens (95 points) was slated third with Anderson (86 points) picked in the fourth position.

Lincoln Memorial (70 points) and Carson-Newman (64 points) occupied the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Newberry (60 points) claims the seventh position while Lenoir-Rhyne lands in the eighth spot. Catawba, Coker and Mars Hill rounded out the poll.

Anderson opens its 2018 season on the road at Southern Wesleyan on Friday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m.

2018 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason All-Conference

 First Team Doubles

1.       Franziska Funke/Katarina Majorova, Tusculum

2.       Maria Garcia/Oroma Womeodu, Wingate

3.       Johanna Delisse/Julia Loos, Lincoln Memorial

 Second Team Doubles

1.       Alisa Liashova/Klara Vuckovic, Carson-Newman

2.       Laura Dean/Jacqueline Olivia, Anderson

3.       Brittani Brooks/Amber Lackey, Tusculum 

First Team Singles

1.       Carlotta Nassi, Queens

2.       Laura Dean, Anderson

3.       Katarina Majorova, Tusculum

4.       Franziska Funke, Tusculum

5.       Claudia De Andreis, Wingate

6.       Ivey Welborn, Anderson

 Second Team Singles

1.       Iulia Ponomareva, Lenoir-Rhyne

2.       Amanda Carrillo, Newberry

3.       Marta Pinol, Lincoln Memorial

4.       Ali Harris, Carson-Newman

5.       Annie McCullough, Tusculum

6.       Caroline Nielsen, Queens

2018 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll

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