THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- Barton College, last spring's third-place finisher, is the pick of the CVAC coaches to take the 2004 title, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 34, will look to improve on their runner-up finish in last year's CVAC tournament, as they have added two impact players to a group of veterans. While All-CVAC players Jane Lewis and Melissa Faulk return to form one of the region's top doubles teams, the Lady Dogs have also added depth and power to a team that went 20-5 overall and 9-2 in the CVAC in 2003. Fifth-year head coach Marc Walters will welcome back former No. 1 player Barb Oakes from a two-year layoff, while freshman Allison Cobb had a strong fall of tournament play with a 9-1 record. Pfeiffer University finished second in the poll. A massive rebuilding year is underway for Pfeiffer, the defending CVAC conference champions. Five of the Falcon's seven players graduated including last year's tournament MVP, Marie Reynolds and three-year starter Jennifer Isenhour. Pfeiffer finished the 2002-03 season with a 21-3 record, ranked 34th in NCAA Division II, and was named an ITA All-Academic team. Top returnees include senior Nona Wagh, a three-time All-Conference selection and sophomore Leslie Watts, who was named All-Conference and an ITA All-Academic team member. They are joined by three strong freshmen Renee Spitz (MI), Andrea Stroup (NC), and Samantha Thomas (SC), all ranked players from their states. Lees-McRae College finished third in the poll. The Lady Bobcats will be led by seniors Rhiannon Ruth, who went 12-1 in CVAC play, and Anna Bailey. The team will be further strengthened by the addition of four freshmen. Rounding out the poll 4-12 are: Queens, Erskine, Mt. Olive, Limestone, Anderson, Belmont Abbey, Coker, and St. Andrews. CVAC Women's Tennis Coaches Poll (First place votes in parenthesis) 1. Barton (6) 96 2. Pfeiffer (3) 91 3. Lees-McRae (1) 74 4. Queens (N.C.) (1) 72 5. Erskine 70 6. Mount Olive 58 7. Limestone 41 8. Anderson 39 9. Belmont Abbey 26 10. Coker College 24 11. St. Andrews 14