Hollins, Sweet Briar Separated by Two Points in Top Three

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University earned 121 total points and received all 11 first place votes in the 2011 ODAC Women’s Tennis Preseason Poll.   Hollins University locks down the second position after picking up 96 points, while Sweet Briar College sits in third with 94 points.  Bridgewater College and Virginia Wesleyan College round out the top five with 87 points and 72 points, respectively.

Washington and Lee posted a 19-7 overall record and a flawless10-0 mark in the ODAC en route to claiming its 20^th ODAC championship in 25 seasons of competition, and ninth straight title in 2010.  The Generals also received the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Washington and Lee will open the 2011 season ranked 10^th in the nation.  WLU will be without the services of ODAC Player of the Year, Lauren Caire, as well as first-teamer Blair Brzeski, following graduation.    However, the Generals welcome back four first team choices, including juniors Ellen Yeatman, Ann Morris, Lauren Lukas, and Jen Snyder.  Yeatman returns after earning All-ODAC First Team honors at No. 2 singles and teaming up with Caire to garner All-ODAC Second Team accolades at No. 1 doubles.  Morris (No. 3 singles) and Lukas (No. 4 singles) earned first team recognition in 2010.  The duo also teamed up to garner All-ODAC First Team laurels at No. 2 doubles.  Snyder comprises the remaining all-conference returnee as she collected first team honors at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles. 

Hollins completed the 2010 campaign with a 15-3 overall record and a 9-1 mark in ODAC play last spring, having made an appearance in the title match against Washington and Lee.  HU welcomes back two first team picks including reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year, Karen Montoya, who finished with a 15-1 singles mark and a 14-4 doubles record.  Senior Sarah Budrus returns to the court after posting a 12-3 overall record and an 11-7 doubles mark en route to earning All-ODAC First Team accolades at No. 2 singles.  Budrus also teamed up with classmate Anne Ailstock to collect All-ODAC Second Team honors at No. 2 doubles.  Ailstock earned second team honors at No. 4 singles. 

Sweet Briar posted a 14-7 overall record and a 7-3 mark in league play a season ago.  The Vixens graduated All-ODAC Second Team selection Virginia Edahl, who ended her senior year with a 14-6 singles record and a 17-3 doubles mark.  However, Sweet Briar returns several experienced sophomores to help lead the charge, including Moriah Burke, who teamed with Edahl to garner First Team All-ODAC honors at No. 1 doubles.  Burke also collected All-ODAC Second Team honors at No. 2 singles.

Bridgewater completed the 2010 year with a 9-10 overall record and a 6-4 mark in conference action.  Juniors Ally McConaughy and Emily Schweitzer headline the returnees for BC.  McConaughy and Schweitzer partnered up and received All-ODAC Second Team honors at No. 3 doubles after posting a 16-3 overall record.  McConaughy also posted a 10-7 singles mark.  Sophomore Amanda Gorby also returns to the court after notching a 12-6 overall record in singles play. 

Virginia Wesleyan, who was picked fifth in this year’s preseason poll, ended the 2010 year with a 9-8 overall record and a 6-4 mark in league action.   The Marlins graduated three second team selection in singles and doubles play.   VWC returns senior Meredith Willet, who recorded a 7-9 overall record in singles play and a 7-10 mark in doubles action last year.  Sophomore Stephanie Bittner also returns to the court after posting a 5-7 record in singles action and an 11-4 overall record in doubles. 

Roanoke posted a 10-6 overall mark and a 7-3 record in ODAC play a year ago.  The Maroons welcome back three second team selections, including Laura Dodson and Cobin Leitch.  Dodson captured All-ODAC Second Team honors in No. 1 singles, while Leitch took home second team honors at No. 3 singles.  The duo partnered up and notched a 12-4 overall record in doubles en route to collecting All-ODAC Second Team honors at No. 1 doubles.  Senior Kelsey White also returns after earning All-ODAC Second Team accolades at No. 2 singles. 

Guilford (7-7 overall, 4-6 ODAC) and Emory & Henry (3-14 overall, 2-8 ODAC) both welcome back several key components in 2011.  Seniors Liz Killion and Nina Bollag headline the Quakers’ returnees.  Killion posted a 10-4 overall record in singles play, while Bollag ended the year with an 8-6 overall record.  Sophomores Victoria Suttles and Becca Hanley will add firepower for the Wasps this season.  Suttles posted a 10-5 overall record in singles action, while Hanley recorded a 4-10 mark. 

Randolph-Macon (1-9 overall, 9-9 ODAC), Lynchburg (0-12 overall, 0-10 ODAC) and Randolph (5-8 overall, 3-7 ODAC) will all look to climb the ODAC ladder this spring.  Sarah Rainey headlines the returnees for the Yellow Jackets after collecting All-ODAC Honorable Mention accolades a year ago.  Rainey posted a 4-4 overall record in singles play.  Sophomore Reba Sledd will look to improve this season after recording a 2-5 overall mark in singles play in 2010.  The Hornets welcome back a host of experience including three seniors.  Sophomore Jeannine Maley will lead the charge after posting a 2-6 record in singles play last season.  The WildCats will be led by senior Shantel Rivera after notching a 6-2 overall record in singles play a year ago.  

Listed below is the complete 2011 ODAC Women’s Tennis Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. 

2011 ODAC WOMEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes