Thursday, January 25, 2007

Valparaiso University's women's tennis team has been selected to win its fourth straight Mid-Continent Conference regular season championship in 2007 according to the preseason poll voted upon by the league's head coaches.

First year head coach Michelle Mahonney's squad garnered 47 points, including six of the eight first place votes, to finish six eight points ahead of IUPUI in the balloting. Last year, Valpo won its second straight Mid-Con Tournament title in women's tennis and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The Crusaders enter league play with a 30 match regular season Mid-Con winning streak.

Oral Roberts was picked third in the poll, one point behind the Jaguars, while Southern Utah and Western Illinois were picked fourth and fifth respectively. Oakland, Centenary, and UMKC round out the preseason predictions.

First place votes earned seven points in the poll on a scale that saw one point issued for a seventh place pick. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Crusaders will open up their 2007 regular season on Friday, February 2 at Butler in a 1 p.m. CST match.

2007 Mid-Continent Conference Preseason Poll
Team - Points
1. Valparaiso (6) - 47
2. IUPUI (1) - 39
3. Oral Roberts (1) - 38
4. Southern Utah - 31
5. Western Illinois - 25
6. Oakland - 20
7. Centenary - 15
8. UMKC - 9
(First place votes in parentheses)