ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson women's tennis team has been predicted to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference in a vote by the league's coaches as released Monday by the league office.
In addition to the rankings, the doubles team of senior Rebecca Bruning and junior Ivey Welborn earned Second-Team All-SAC honors. Last season, Bruning/Welborn posted a 16-6 overall record and 9-2 SAC record while ranking as high as No. 22 in the nation. The Trojan tandem holds an all-time record of 29-11 overall and 16-5 in SAC action. Bruning was also honored second-team All-SAC in singles. The Athens, Ga. native held a 15-6 overall singles record, highlighted by wins over two nationally ranked players and a No. 45 national ranking to go in front of her name.
The Trojans finished with a disappointing 10-12 overall record for the season and a 5-6 mark within the SAC last season. Anderson lost its finale six matches missing the conference tournament for the first time since joining the SAC in 2010.
Queens, which collected six first-place votes and 124 points, shares the top spot in the poll with Wingate who collected five first-place votes and 124 points. Tusculum (104 points) was slated third with Newberry (80 points) picked in the fourth position.
Anderson accumulated 78 points to place fifth. Lincoln Memorial (76 points) and Carson-Newman (61 points) occupied the sixth and seventh spots, respectively. Coker (56 points) narrowly edges out Lenoir-Rhyne for the eighth position. Catawba, Mars Hill and Brevard rounded out the poll.
Anderson opens their 2017 season on the road at USC Sumter on Wednesday Feb. 1 at 3 p.m.
Rank (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Queens (6) 124
1. Wingate (5) 124
3. Tusculum 104
4. Newberry 80
5. Anderson 78
6. Lincoln Memorial 76
7. Carson-Newman 61
8. Coker 56
9. Lenoir-Rhyne 54
10. Catawba 47
11. Mars Hill 28
12. Brevard 18
2017 Women's Tennis Preseason All-League
First Team Doubles
Carlotta Nassi/Melissa Laing, Queens
Marta Gonzalez/Caroline Nielson, Queens
Claudia De Andries/Maria Garcia, Wingate
Second Team Doubles
Layla Tanik/Sydney Homan, Wingate
Ivey Welborn/Rebecca Bruning, Anderson
Marta Pinol/Roksolana Prudyvus, Lincoln Memorial
First Team Singles
Carlotta Nassi, Queens
Elizabeth Williamson, Newberry
Claudia De Andries, Wingate
Melissa Laing, Queens
Franziska Funke, Tusculum
Marta Pinol, Lincoln Memorial
Second Team Singles
Rebecca Bruning, Anderson
Marta Gonzalez, Queens
Alis Harris, Carson-Newman
Layla Tanik, Wingate
Sydney Homan, Wingate
Jil Corsato Owsianka, Carson-Newman