Jan. 16, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team was picked to finish third in the SEC East by the league coaches in a poll released Wednesday. Florida was selected to win the overall league title.
The Commodores are ranked 16th in the preseason poll released last week by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The `Dores return five letterwinners and four starters from a team that finished 19-9 last season and advanced to the NCAA round of 16 for the 10th consecutive year.
Florida received 67 points in the poll and eight votes as the overall league champion. Perennial power Georgia was picked to finish second in the eastern division, with 59 points and two votes as overall league champion. The Commodores were selected third by the coaches, receiving two votes for overall league champion and 46 points overall. Rounding out the predicted eastern division standings was South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.
In the west, Arkansas was predicted to win the division, followed closely behind by LSU. Auburn was picked third in the division, while Ole Miss was expected to finish fourth. Alabama and Mississippi State were predicted to finish fifth and sixth, respectively.
The preseason poll is voted on by the SEC women’s tennis coach and is based on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 tally.
2008 Women’s Tennis Coaches Poll
Eastern Division:
1. Florida 67
2. Georgia 59
3. Vanderbilt 46
4. South Carolina 36
5. Tennessee 29
6. Kentucky 15
Western Division:
1. Arkansas 65
2. LSU 58
3. Auburn 56
4. Ole Miss 29
5. Alabama 25
6. Mississippi State 19
Overall Regular Season Champion: Florida (8 votes); Georgia (2); Vanderbilt (2)