Winthrop, Mass. – The Albertus Magnus College women's tennis team was picked to finish fifth in the 2016 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Poll. The poll, which was released on Tuesday afternoon, is voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
The Falcons earned 18 points to finish just 10 points back of fourth-place and in-state rival Saint Joseph (Conn.). Eight-time defending conference champion Simmons landed atop the poll with 48 points thanks to six first-place votes. Suffolk finished second to the Sharks in the 2016 poll, receiving one first-place nod and 41 points.
Johnson & Wales University was a mere four points behind Suffolk in the ledger to take third place with 37 points. The University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) took the fourth position with 28 points and the Falcons rounded out the top-five.
Making up the remainder of the poll after Albertus Magnus was Anna Maria with 13 points and Mount Ida with 11.
The women's tennis team is coming off an historic season in 2015 after finishing the autumn with an 8-6 overall mark and qualifying for the GNAC Tournament. The eight wins were a new program record and the post-season berth in the conference tournament was the second in school history.
The Falcons open their 2016 slate with a home non-conference match against regional foe Bay Path on Friday, September 2, at 3:30 pm. Last season, Albertus Magnus scored a 5-4 road win against the Wildcats.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
For the latest information on the women's tennis team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
2016 GNAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Simmons (6) – 48
2. Suffolk (1) – 41
3. Johnson & Wales – 37
4. USJ (Conn.) – 28
5. Albertus Magnus – 18
6. Anna Maria – 13
7. Mount Ida - 11
