Tennis Ranked #7 in Preseason NAIA Poll
After being selected second in the 2016 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Preseason Poll, the Brenau tennis team was voted #7 in the first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason poll.
The Golden Tigers preseason ranking marks an improvement over last season's #10 final poll position and represents the squad's fifth straight top-10 preseason ranking.
The 2016 team returns four letter winners from last year's team including NAIA All-American Fatyha Berjane, who amassed a 12-5 record in her inaugural season at Brenau.
Newcomers to the squad include freshman Kirsten Dickins and Rebecca Pijls and sophomore Maya Mammetgulyyeva, a transfer from Fresno City (Ca.) College.
"I'm surprised we jumped a few spots in the rankings this early in the season," said head coach Andre Ferreira. "Our job now is to prove not only that we deserve the #7 spot but also that we are good enough to move even higher."
"We have arguably the toughest schedule against NAIA teams this season, including matches against nine teams in the top 25 and two others receiving votes, so it will give us plenty of chances to show our talent and ultimately tell where we really belong in the national rankings. We will focus one match at a time, taking baby steps towards our goal to stay healthy and play our best tennis during the post-season. All our attention at the moment is in Saturday's match against a top 15 NCAA II opponent, GCSU (currently ranked No. 13 in the NCAA)."
2015 NAIA National Champions and SSAC Champion Auburn-University Montgomery (Ala.) was selected first in the national poll, while fellow SSAC teams William Carey (Miss.) (6th), Coastal Georgia (20th) and Dalton State (RV) were also recognized in the poll.
Brenau opens the 2016 season on January 30th against Georgia College and State University at the Smithgall Tennis Center in Gainesville at 1:30 pm eastern.
For the complete national rankings article, click here.
2016 NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason – (Jan. 26)
RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL | WON | LOST | FINAL POINTS |
1 | 1 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (11) | 23 | 4 | 312 |
2 | 2 | Georgia Gwinnett (1) | 11 | 7 | 302 |
3 | 3 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 17 | 8 | 290 |
4 | 5 | SCAD Savannah (Ga.) | 13 | 5 | 279 |
5 | 8 | Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) | 0 | 0 | 263 |
6 | 9 | William Carey (Miss.) | 12 | 8 | 250 |
7 | 10 | Brenau (Ga.) | 12 | 6 | 238 |
8 | 7 | Keiser (Fla.) | 10 | 7 | 237 |
9 | 13 | Westmont (Calif.) | 15 | 9 | 234 |
10 | 11 | Arizona Christian | 23 | 3 | 220 |
11 | 4 | Xavier (La.) | 17 | 10 | 212 |
12 | 14 | Northwestern Ohio | 19 | 6 | 207 |
13 | 15 | Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) | 9 | 12 | 187 |
14 | 18 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 12 | 8 | 179 |
15 | 23 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 0 | 1 | 173 |
16 | RV | Indiana Wesleyan | 15 | 0 | 168 |
17 | 22 | Davenport (Mich.) | 16 | 10 | 150 |
18 | RV | McPherson (Kan.) | 14 | 7 | 142 |
19 | 24 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 12 | 5 | 114 |
20 | 25 | Coastal Georgia | 9 | 7 | 112 |
21 | RV | SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) | 6 | 9 | 104 |
22 | 17 | Evangel (Mo.) | 0 | 0 | 98 |
23 | RV | Marian (Ind.) | 9 | 2 | 87 |
24 | RV | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 12 | 10 | 70 |
25 | NR | Ottawa (Kan.) | 12 | 10 | 63 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Graceland (Iowa), LSU Alexandria (La.), Vanguard (Calif.), Concordia (Calif.), Oklahoma Baptist
Receiving Votes: St. Thomas (Fla.) 58, Reinhardt (Ga.) 40, Southwestern (Kan.) 37, Dalton State (Ga.) 35, Aquinas (Mich.) 26, Baker (Kan.) 21, Morningside (Iowa) 18, San Diego Christian (Calif.) 9, Georgetown (Ky.) 8, Missouri Baptist 7, Huntington (Ind.) 7, St. Francis (Ill.) 4, Asbury (Ky.) 4, Milligan (Tenn.) 3