COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M women's tennis team has been picked to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference this season, according to a preseason poll of the league's head coaches and announced today by the conference office.
Ranked 11th nationally, the Aggies lost only one senior from last year's team that went 21-7 and placed fifth in the SEC with a 10-3 league mark.
Florida, ranked No. 2 in the nation and one of 11 SEC teams listed in the ITA top 60, was picked as the league's overall champion. Last season, the Gators, who were upset by A&M in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, went 23-6, 11-2 in the SEC and made their 24th trip to the NCAA Championship semifinals in the last 28 years.Â
The preseason poll is voted on by the women's tennis head coach at each institution and is based on a 14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 vote.
The complete tally for the poll is below.              Â
Team                                    Points
1. Florida                             196
2. Georgia                          169
3. Vanderbilt                     165
4. Alabama                         157
5. Texas A&MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 150
6. Ole Miss                         124
7. LSUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 122
8. South Carolina             118
9. Auburn                           102
10. Kentucky                     80
11. Tennessee                  65
12. Mississippi State       35
13. Missouri                       31
14. Arkansas                      29
Texas A&M opens its dual match season this weekend as the Aggies play host to North Texas (0-1), Houston (1-1) and TCU (1-0) in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend, Saturday and Sunday at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. A&M opens SEC play Feb. 27 at Tennessee.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AggieWomensTennis