CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville men's and women's tennis
teams were picked to finish sixth in the Big South Conference's annual
preseason poll announced today by the conference office.
In the men's poll, defending conference champion Radford
received six first-place votes and 48 out of a possible 49 points to repeat in
2009. Radford finished ahead of Winthrop, who received one first-place
vote and 41 points. Coastal Carolina
finished third in the voting with 34 points, while Gardner-Webb captured the fourth spot with 25 points. Liberty was
picked fifth with 24 points, followed by UNC Asheville (17) and Presbyterian
(6).
11-time Big South champions Winthrop were selected to finish
first in the women's poll. The Eagles received
six first-place votes and 61 out of a possible 64 points. Winthrop
finished ahead of Liberty who
received one first-place vote and 51 points, and Coastal Carolina who also received one first-place vote and
recorded 50 points. Charleston
Southern finished fourth in the
voting with 39 points, while Radford captured
the fifth spot with 36 points. Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville tied for sixth with 21
points, followed by Presbyterian
(9).
The UNC Asheville men's team will open up the 2009 season on
January 24 against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem,
N.C. On the same day, the women's squad will play
in its opening match in Chattanooga,
Tenn. versus the Chattanooga
Mocs.
On January 31, the men's team will play its home opener
against East Carolina. The men's and women's teams both face
Appalachian State at home on February 1.
