ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson University women's tennis team has been predicted to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference while senior Laura Dean and junior Mirna Curcic has earned SAC preseason honors, announced by the league office on Friday.
At the No. 1 singles flight for the Trojans, Dean compiled an overall 2018 record of 13-5 and a 6-3 conference record helping her earn 2019 All-SAC second team honors. The native of Georgetown, S.C. earned as high as a No. 25 national ranking by the ITA in late March.
Newcomer Mirna Curcic and Dean paired up together this past fall posting a 3-0 record earning All-SAC preseason honors. Curcic and Dean are scheduled to play as a pairing in the spring.
Wingate (106-6) earned the top-spot followed by Queens (100-3). Tusculum (97-2) was slotted third earning two first-place votes. Newberry was positioned fourth with Anderson claiming the fifth slot. Lincoln Memorial was picked sixth while the Bears from Lenoir-Rhyne were slotted seventh. Catawba, Carson-Newman, Coker and Mars Hill rounded out the poll, respectively.
The Trojans open up the 2019 season on Friday, Feb. 1 at home against Southern Wesleyan. First serve is slated for 1 pm.
2019 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
Rank |
School |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
1 |
Wingate |
106 (6) |
2 |
Queens |
100 (3) |
3 |
Tusculum |
97 (2) |
4 |
Newberry |
74 |
5 |
Anderson |
70 |
6 |
Lincoln Memorial |
68 |
7 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
55 |
8 |
Catawba |
50 |
9 |
Carson-Newman |
43 |
10 |
Coker |
30 |
11 |
Mars Hill |
22 |
2019 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason All-Conference
First Team Doubles
Annie McCullough/Caitlin McCullough, Tusculum
Yana Fleyer / Sasha Davidzenka, Queens
Amber Lackey / Africa Mota, Tusculum
Second Team Doubles
Emily Murchland/Sanne Janssen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Laura Dean /Mirna Curcic, Anderson
Lucy Whelan/Marta Escanero, Lenoir-Rhyne
First Team Singles
Michela Verpelli, Wingate
Claudia De Andreis, Wingate
Yana Fleyer, Queens
Annie McCullough, Tusculum
Sasha Davidzenka, Queens
Caitlin McCullough, Tusculum
Second Team Singles
Laura Dean, Anderson
Elisa Aguirre, Newberry
Chyi Lee, Wingate
Sydney Homan, Wingate
Erisa Onchi, Catawba
Isabel Fornies, Queens
Marta Pinol, Lincoln Memorial