BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference announced the women’s tennis coaches preseason poll, Friday. Many of the teams will see action this weekend as dual season began, the official ITA kick-off begins next weekend.
The Florida Gators were picked as the overall champion for the fourth consecutive year. Last season, the Gators went 27-1, 11-0 in the SEC. They won the regular season SEC title as well as the SEC Tournament title. The Gators also won their second consecutive women’s tennis title by defeating Michigan in the Round of 16, 4-0; Miami, 4-0 in the quarterfinals; and Duke 4-3 in the semfinals before finally defeating UCLA, 4-0 for the Gators sixth title.
Florida was also voted as Eastern Division Champion with 98 points. Georgia was second (83 points) with Vanderbilt coming in at third (62 points). The remainder of the East was: 4. Tennessee (61 points), 5. South Carolina (44 points), 6. Kentucky (23 points), and Missouri (21 points).
In the West, Texas A&M was voted as Division Champion with 94 points. Alabama was voted second (88 points) with Ole Miss third (66 points). The remainder of the West was: 4. Arkansas (47 points), 5. Auburn (46 points), 6. LSU (34 points), and Mississippi State (17 points).
The preseason poll is voted on by the women’s tennis head coach at each institution and is based on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 count in each division. They also vote for the overall champion, with each vote counting as one point.
The complete tally for the poll is below.
2013 Women’s Tennis Coaches Preseason Poll
Eastern Division Points
1. Florida 98
2. Georgia 83
3. Vanderbilt 62
4. Tennessee 61
5. South Carolina 44
6. Kentucky 23
7. Missouri 21
Western Division Points
1. Texas A&M 94
2. Alabama 88
3. Ole Miss 66
4. Arkansas 47
5. Auburn 46
6. LSU 34
7. Mississippi State 17
Overall Regular Season Champion: Florida (13 points), Texas A&M (1)