ROCK HILL, S.C. - As the 2015 spring season opens on Sunday, Anderson University women's tennis was tabbed fifth in the annual Preseason South Atlantic Conference Coaches' Poll, as the Trojan tandem of Rebecca Bruning and Ivey Welborn received conference recognition, announced by the league office on Monday.

Bruning headlines the tandem as she received All-SAC First Team singles honors, marking the second straight season AU has placed a player on the first team after Avery Owens claimed a spot a season ago. The sophomore added her second preseason all-conference award as she joined newcomer, Welborn, on the All-SAC Second Teams Doubles list.

Bruning finished the 2014 season with a team-high 13 wins, highlighted by a perfect 10-0 record against SAC opponents, while playing at the No. 3 position. The Athens, Ga. native won eight of her last ten matches to end the campaign and was named to the all-conference second team at the conclusion of the regular season.

Welborn has only played a fall season with the Black and Gold, as the freshman and Bruning shined at the Southeast Regional Small College ITA/USTA Championships in late September where they won three matches against the region's top doubles teams. As a result of the tournament run, the pair was ranked No. 22 in the country in the Preseason ITA Division II Rankings, which were released on Nov. 10.

The fifth place ranking in the annual preseason poll is the lowest position AU has faced since joining the SAC before the 2011 season. The Trojans earned the fifth seed in last season's SAC Tournament, as Anderson was eliminated in the opening round for the first time in program history.

Wingate, which went a perfect 11-0 in SAC matches during the regular season, captured the top spot in the preseason rankings, while last season's tournament champion, Tusculum was placed in the second spot. Queens and Newberry rounded out the top-four, respectively, as the two teams finished just ahead of Anderson.

The Black and Gold get their season under on Sunday when they hit the road to Columbia College. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Women's Tennis Preseason SAC Coaches' Poll
1. Wingate (7) 124
2. Tusculum (2) 114
3. Queens (1) 108
4. Newberry (2) 102
5. Anderson 97
6. Lincoln Memorial 87
7. Mars Hill 70
8. Catawba 62
9. Carson-Newman 50
10. Coker 40
11. Lenoir-Rhyne 37
12. Brevard 33

All-SAC First Team Singles
Caroline Holland, Wingate
Melissa Laing, Queens
Rebecca Bruning, Anderson
Elena Vasilyeva, Lincoln Memorial
Katie Daugherty, Brevard
Zorica Djuric, Lenoir-Rhyne

All-SAC First Team Doubles
Elena Vasilyeva/Gemma Goodland, Lincoln Memorial
Carlotta Nassi & Melissa Laing, Queens
Jaclyn Rock & Clair Hamilton, Queens

All-SAC Second Team Singles
Layla Tanik, Wingate
Kate Hutchinson, Tusculum
Erin Mills, Tusculum
Vanessa Ortiz, Newberry
Carlotta Nassi, Queens
Lucy McLaurin, Mars Hill

All-SAC Second Team Doubles
Rebecca Bruning & Ivey Welborn, Anderson
Amanda Sumner & Emily Waters, Tusculum
Kaelee Heffner & Kate Hutchinson, Tusculum