FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University, winner of 17 consecutive conference championships, occupies its familiar pedestal atop the 2020 ODAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll. The Generals garnered 12 first place votes on the way to 144 points. Randolph-Macon College and the University of Lynchburg are second and third, respectively, for a second straight season. The Yellow Jackets collected 124 points, while the Hornets received the remaining first place vote towards 119 markers.

The biggest jump in the survey belongs to Sweet Briar College, which moved to fourth from eighth thanks to 94 tallies. Roanoke College is just one point back in fifth with 93 points.

The 2019 ODAC Tournament saw Washington and Lee lift its 29th overall conference trophy. The Generals took down Virginia Wesleyan University (5-0) and Randolph College (5-0) to earn a spot in the final. Lynchburg earned a quarterfinal win over Bridgewater College (5-0) and defeated Randolph-Macon (5-2) in the semifinals to reach the ODAC title match for the first time since the tournament moved to a team-based format in 2007. Washington and Lee posted a 5-0 win over Lynchburg to earn the title.

RELATED: ODAC Tournament Bracket

The Generals continued their season as the ODAC's lone competitor in the NCAA Division III Tournament. W&L received a bye thru the first round before beginning regional play at Emory University. Washington and Lee posted a 5-4 victory over Sewanee in round two before falling to the host Eagles, 5-0, in the third round.

RELATED: NCAA Team Bracket

Entering the 2020 season, Washington and Lee is the lone ODAC squad with representation in various team and player rankings published by the ITA. The Generals are raned 23rd in the country and fifth in the Atlantic South region.

Top singles player Taylor Garcia is slotted 44th nationally and 10th in the region. First-year teammate Marta Mikos is ranked 18th in the Atlantic South. Garcia's ranking is powered by a quarterfinals qualification at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships hosted by the University of Mary Washington in late September. Mikos reached the round of 16.

RELATED: ITA Team Rankings - National / Atlantic South | ITA Singles Rankings - National | Atlantic South

The amount of returning All-ODAC talent dotting league rosters in 2020 nearly rivals last season's haul (26) with 21 of the 31 all-conference awards from 2019 accounted for this season. Randolph-Macon leads the way with six honors belonging to returning players. Landon Aud was All-ODAC First Team at #4 singles and joins returning teammate Kristen Dantzler as an All-ODAC Second Team duo at #2 doubles. Morgan Fuqua was one-half of last season second team #1 doubles tandem, while Courtney Jenkins and Isabel Wadsworth paired to earn the All-ODAC Third Team award at #3 doubles.

Washington and Lee and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Erin Ness has plenty of production to replace with three first team single players gone from last year's roster. First team #1 singles standout Garcia will help in that effort, along with the returning first team #1 doubles team of Lily Horsley and Valerie Marshall. Garcia was one-half of the other first team #1 doubles outfit, while Anna Kreynin will need a new partner in order to duplicate her first team spot at #3 doubles.

Lynchburg and Randolph both feature four returning honors. Christina Harris, the reigning ODAC Player of the Year, leads the way for the Hornets. Alissa Anderson is back after picking up first team #3 doubles laurels as well at second team #3 singles accolades. Ellen Druebbisch was a second team choice at #5 singles. For the WildCats, Ashley Schmitz earned first team distinction at #2 singles as well as second team #1 doubles with Keyu Jin. Jin was also a second team choice at #1 singles.

The remaining All-ODAC returners don Roanoke and Sweet Briar colors. The Maroons look to Carolyn Kitsock for leadership as she's back in Salem following a second team bid at #2 singles. Vixens senior Emily Wandling was a second team selection at #1 singles. As evidenced by the coach's perspective from the preseason poll, she'll have some additional help on the hardcourt this season. That was showcased this fall when first-year Kate Kotany won the "D" singles draw and three players qualified for various semifinals at the ITA Southeast Regionals.

RELATED: 2019 All-ODAC Women's Tennis Awards

The 2020 spring season begins with non-conference play on Friday, February 7. The first conference match is set for Wednesday, February 19. The ODAC Tournament is slated to begin Tuesday, April 28, with quarterfinal action at the four highest seeds. The semifinals and finals will be hosted at Randolph-Macon College on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3.

Listed below is the complete 2020 ODAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll. For more information on ODAC women's tennis, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.