THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- Barton College is once again in the No. 1 spot in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference women's tennis preseason poll as voted on by league head coaches. The Anderson College women, 10-9 last spring, were picked sixth in the poll. Barton head coach Marc Walters welcomes back five starters from a squad that went 10-0 during the 2004 CVAC regular season and also won the CVAC Tournament. Barton was 24-4 overall in '04 and advanced to the NCAA regional for the first time in eight years. Gone to graduation is Barb Oakes, but the Lady Bulldogs welcome three freshmen into the fold to join a battle-tested lineup. "Last year's group really put it together as a team, both on the court and in the classroom," said Walters. "They have great senior leadership, experience, and they have twice been named an ITA All-Academic Team, which shows their balance. They are just a terrific bunch of young ladies, and we're looking forward to grinding through a deep field of competition within the CVAC." Coming in second place in the poll is Queens University of Charlotte. The Royals are looking forward to a solid final season under fifth-year head coach Scott Handback. Seniors Kelly Bryant and Aicha Ghys will return along with sophomores Kristin McCulley and Lee-Deane Elmore from the starting lineup last year. Joining Bryant and Ghys in the starting lineup this season will be freshmen Merissa Rock, Skye Powell and Whitney Hansen. Also joining the team this year are senior Cathy Culbertson and junior-transfer Jessica Burke. This will be the final season at Queens for Handback, who received the USTA/Southern ITA Community Service Award for 2004. Erskine College is third in this year's preseason poll, reflecting the team's regular season finish from '04. The Flying Fleet, who went 8-2 in the conference last season return all of their players and also welcome freshman Jennifer Gennaoui. The New Jersey native, who finished the fall season with an 11-1 record, will play at the No. 1 spot for the Fleet and will look to make an immediate impact on the already talented squad. Top returnees include senior Radha Bharathi, junior Chrissy Taylor, and sophomores Julie Mages and Ellen Dawson. Rounding out the Coaches Preseason Poll 4-12 are: Pfeiffer, Mount Olive, Anderson, Limestone, Coker, Belmont Abbey, and St. Andrews respectively. CVAC Women's Tennis Coaches Poll (First place votes in parenthesis) 1. Barton College (6) 76 2. Queens University of Charlotte (3) 70 3. Erskine College 4. Pfeiffer University 58 5. Mount Olive College 55 6. Anderson College 38 7. Limestone College 30 8. Coker College 28 9. Belmont Abbey College 19 10. St. Andrews Presbyterian College 10