BOSTON, Mass. -- With five consecutive GNAC women's tennis championships to its name, Simmons College was the favorite in the 2013 Pre-Season poll, recording 48 out of a possible 49 points with six of seven first place votes. Emerson College, who fell to the Sharks in the last two GNAC title matches, has left the GNAC to join the NEWMAC Conference while Emmanuel College dropped its women's tennis program leaving things wide open for the rest of the conference.

The Sharks will enter the season as the heavy favorite to capture an unprecedented sixth consecutive GNAC title. Last season, Simmons posted a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play to go along with 15 total wins. The program lost only one senior from the 2012 roster to graduation and is expecting to return all of its key players from last season including the 2012 GNAC Player of the Year in Margaret Teague (Manchester, N.H.) as well as the 2012 GNAC Rookie of the Year, Meghan Cokely (Haverhill, Mass.).

Finishing second in the poll was Suffolk University with 41 points, receiving the other first place vote. Last season, the Rams posted a 4-4 GNAC mark with seven wins overall. The Rams were led by junior Adrianna Garrett who posted a 10-5 singles mark in 2012, going 2-1 out of the No. 2 singles spot and 8-4 from No. 3 singles.

Johnson & Wales rounded out the top three in the poll with 37 points after a strong 2012 campaign that saw them finish at 6-2 in the GNAC and 12- 3 overall. The Wildcats will look to stay in the hunt with strong play from junior Samantha Jo Borr who posted a 6-2 record at No. 1 singles en route to being named to the 2012 GNAC Singles First Team.

With 23 points, Anna Maria College earns its highest ranking in the program's history in fourth place while the University of Saint Joseph (CT) was just behind them in fifth with 21 points.

Rounding out the 2013 GNAC Women's Tennis Pre-Season Coaches Poll were Mount Ida College in sixth place with 14 points and Albertus Magnus College in seventh with a total of 12 points. 

The Sharks open their 2013 season on Saturday, August 31 against Wheaton College.

Release Courtesy of the GNAC