Friday, January 30, 2004

Valparaiso University's women's tennis team has been selected to finish in third place in the Mid-Continent Conference according to the annual preseason poll conducted of the league's head coaches.

Head coach Tim Maluga's team is coming off of an 8-7 campaign overall in 2003 and a 6-1 second place finish in the Mid-Con. The Crusaders dropped their semifinal match to Oral Roberts in the conference tournament last season.

IUPUI, the defending regular season and tournament champions, were picked to repeat, followed by Oral Roberts and the Crusaders. Southern Utah was tabbed fourth, followed by Western Illinois and Centenary. Chicago State, UMKC, and Oakland round out the poll.

2004 Mid-Continent Conference Preseason Poll-Women's Tennis
1. IUPUI (7)-63
2. Oral Roberts (2)-57
3. Valparaiso-45
4. Southern Utah-38
5. Western Illinois-31
6. Centenary-30
7. Chicago State-27
8. UMKC-18
9. Oakland-13
(First place votes in parentheses)