Posted: Aug 27, 2010

Edgewood favored in NAC women’s tennis poll

Waukesha, Wis. - Edgewood was picked first in the Northern Athletics Conference preseason women's tennis poll, the conference announced Thursday evening. The poll was voted on by the 12 conference head women's tennis coaches.

The Madison school has won the last two NAC crowns, which included two trips to the NCAA III championship tournament. The Eagles went 10-1 in NAC duals (12-14 overall) last season, and won three individual championships at the 2009 NAC Championship.

Concordia Wisconsin--picked second in the poll--was runner-up in the NAC last season, also with a 10-1 record in NAC duals and a league-best overall record of 14-7. The Falcons won the two championships prior to Edgewood's current run of consecutive titles.

Aurora (11-4, 9-2 NAC), Marian (12-5, 9-2), Benedictine (8-6, 7-4) and Concordia Chicago (7-7, 5-6) followed CUW in the top half of the poll. Dominican (8-11, 5-6) was picked seventh, MSOE (4-8, 4-7) eighth and Wisconsin Lutheran (4-12, 4-7) ninth.

Alverno (1-9, 2-9) and Lakeland (1-10, 1-10)--which tied for 10th at the NAC championship last season--tied for 10th with 35 points each. Rockford (0-11, 0-11) rounded out the poll in the 12th spot.

CUC and Edgewood open up the 2010 season on Saturday, Aug. 28, in nonconference competition, while the other 10 NAC teams open up play the following week in nonconference action. All teams open up NAC play on Saturday, Sept. 4, with the final NAC duals taking place on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

The 2010 NAC Championship takes place on Oct. 2-3, at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison on the University of Wisconsin campus. The NAC champion receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championship next May.

2010 NAC Preseason Poll

1. Edgewood (7), 136

2. Concordia Wisconsin (4), 132

3. Aurora, 109

4. Marian, 101

5. Benedictine (1), 96

6. Concordia Chicago, 78

7. Dominican, 70

8. MSOE, 68

9. Wisconsin Lutheran, 61

10.Alverno, 35

Lakeland, 35