Eastern Michigan Athletics
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Eagles Selected to Finish Ninth in MAC Preseason Poll
1/13/2017 11:00:00 AM | Tennis
The Eagles earned 17 points in this season's poll
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team was selected to finish ninth in the Mid-American Conference this season, as the league office announced the 2017 MAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll, Friday, Jan. 13.
The Buffalo Bulls were picked to capture both the MAC regular season title and the MAC Tournament championship, receiving 68 votes. Last season, Buffalo finished the regular season as the eighth seed heading into the MAC Tournament, where Ball State was eventually crowned the champion after defeating the No. 3-seeded squad from Western Michigan.
Ball State was selected second in the poll with 67 votes, while Miami finished third (65 votes) and Western Michigan was fourth (62). Following the top-four, the votes dropped off significantly. Akron earned fifth with 41 votes, following by Bowling Green (39), Northern Illinois (28), Toledo (18) and Eastern Michigan (17). Ball State took home five of the first place votes, while Buffalo snagged three and Miami grabbed one. The Bulls and Cardinals received the majority of the MAC Tournament Championship votes with three each, while the RedHawks earned two and Western Michigan had one.
The Eagles return seven letterwinners from a season ago, including 2015 Second Team All-MAC awardwinner Ani Gogvadze (Tbilisi, Georgia-Khikhani) and 2015 ITA Midwest Regional semifinalist Andrea Martinovska (Plzn, Czech Republic-Sport and Managment School). Maria Paula Ribero (Bucaramanga, Colombia) will return to action for dual play this season following an injury a year ago. As a team, the Eagles went 5-16 last season, while posting a 2-6 record in MAC play.
The 2017 tournament is slated for April 28-30 on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
The Eagles begin the 2017 dual season this weekend when they travel to Youngstown State University Friday, Jan. 13, to square off with the Penguins at 6 p.m.
The complete voting totals are as follows with eight head coaches casting votes.
2017 MAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll Voting
1. Buffalo (68)
2. Ball State (67)
3. Miami (65)
4. Western Michigan (62)
5. Akron (41)
6. Bowling Green (39)
7. Northern Illinois (28)
8. Toledo (18)
9. Eastern Michigan (17)
(total points based on 9 for a first place vote; 8 for second place, etc.)
First place votes: Ball State (5), Buffalo (3), Miami (1).
Tournament winner votes: Buffalo (3), Ball State (3), Miami (2), Western Michigan (1).
The Buffalo Bulls were picked to capture both the MAC regular season title and the MAC Tournament championship, receiving 68 votes. Last season, Buffalo finished the regular season as the eighth seed heading into the MAC Tournament, where Ball State was eventually crowned the champion after defeating the No. 3-seeded squad from Western Michigan.
Ball State was selected second in the poll with 67 votes, while Miami finished third (65 votes) and Western Michigan was fourth (62). Following the top-four, the votes dropped off significantly. Akron earned fifth with 41 votes, following by Bowling Green (39), Northern Illinois (28), Toledo (18) and Eastern Michigan (17). Ball State took home five of the first place votes, while Buffalo snagged three and Miami grabbed one. The Bulls and Cardinals received the majority of the MAC Tournament Championship votes with three each, while the RedHawks earned two and Western Michigan had one.
The Eagles return seven letterwinners from a season ago, including 2015 Second Team All-MAC awardwinner Ani Gogvadze (Tbilisi, Georgia-Khikhani) and 2015 ITA Midwest Regional semifinalist Andrea Martinovska (Plzn, Czech Republic-Sport and Managment School). Maria Paula Ribero (Bucaramanga, Colombia) will return to action for dual play this season following an injury a year ago. As a team, the Eagles went 5-16 last season, while posting a 2-6 record in MAC play.
The 2017 tournament is slated for April 28-30 on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
The Eagles begin the 2017 dual season this weekend when they travel to Youngstown State University Friday, Jan. 13, to square off with the Penguins at 6 p.m.
The complete voting totals are as follows with eight head coaches casting votes.
2017 MAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll Voting
1. Buffalo (68)
2. Ball State (67)
3. Miami (65)
4. Western Michigan (62)
5. Akron (41)
6. Bowling Green (39)
7. Northern Illinois (28)
8. Toledo (18)
9. Eastern Michigan (17)
(total points based on 9 for a first place vote; 8 for second place, etc.)
First place votes: Ball State (5), Buffalo (3), Miami (1).
Tournament winner votes: Buffalo (3), Ball State (3), Miami (2), Western Michigan (1).
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