FOREST, Va. – Guilford College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were ranked fourth and seventh, respectively, in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) preseason poll released Friday.
Guilford’s men collected 68 points and one first place vote for a fourth place ranking. Washington and Lee University topped the survey with 10 first-place votes and 100 points. Bridgewater College and Virginia Wesleyan College rounded out the top three with 83 and 75 points, respectively.
The Quakers finished the 2012-13 season 8-8 overall and 6-4 in the ODAC. The team returns five students from last year’s squad, including captain and junior Turner Votipka. Votipka was named Third Team All-ODAC at first singles and went 9-10 in singles last season, which ranked fifth in the league. Other veterans include Trevor Cox and Eric Meiler, both of whom have experience in second and third singles and doubles.
On the women’s side, Washington and Lee University secured the top spot with all 11 first-place votes and 121 points. Roanoke College placed second with 98 points and Bridgewater secured third with 90 points. Guilford collected 57 points for seventh place in the preseason poll.
The Quakers finished 7-9 overall and 4-7 in the ODAC last season. Two key returners this year for Guilford are juniors Haley Andrews and Allison Hewitt. Hewitt mainly played at number-five or number- six but she recorded the team’s best overall singles (12-8) and doubles (13-6) records. Andrews held a 5-13 singles record in the number-one position and an 8-12 doubles mark.
Head coach Dave McCain’s Quakers open their 2014 season Feb. 15 at Virginia Wesleyan College.
2014 ODAC MEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Washington and Lee (10) 100 pts. 2. Bridgewater 83 pts. 3. Virginia Wesleyan 75 pts. 4. Guilford (1) 68 pts. 5. Hampden-Sydney 62 pts. 6. Randolph-Macon 58 pts. 7. Roanoke 52 pts. 8. Emory & Henry 43 pts. 9. Randolph 25 pts. 10. Lynchburg 20 pts. 11. Shenandoah 19 pts.
2014 ODAC WOMEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Washington and Lee (11) 121 pts. 2. Roanoke 98 pts. 3. Bridgewater (1) 90 pts. 4. Virginia Wesleyan 82 pts. 5. Randolph-Macon 77 pts. 6. Randolph 63 pts. 7. Guilford 57 pts. 7. Sweet Briar 57 pts. 9. Hollins 56 pts. 10. Emory & Henry 47 pts. 11. Shenandoah 31 pts. 12. Lynchburg 13 pts.