Jan. 11, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Coastal Carolina women's tennis team has been tabbed to finish second in the Big South Conference, according to the conference's annual preseason poll released Jan. 11.
Coastal received one first-place vote and 63 points, to finish behind Winthrop, which recieved its its seventh consecutive No. 1 ranking with seven first-place votes and 79 points.
Charleston Southern finished one point behind Coastal followed by Liberty in fourth with one first-place vote. Campbell holds the fifth spot with 46 points followed by Gardner-Webb (34), UNC Asheville (31), Radford (24) and Presbyterian with 12 points.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Catherine Hewitt, the Chanticleers return senior Miki Bunea, who was named to the Big South All-Academic Team, the all-conference singles team, the all-conference doubles team and was the flight champion at No. 2 singles. The two-time singles all-conference selection turned in a 19-3 record, including nine straight wins to finish the regular season.
The Chants also return senior Diana Mortlock, who was named to the all-conference doubles team last year and was named the flight champion at No. 5 singles and No. 2 doubles with Bunea.
Sophomore Mikaela Kristofersson was selected to the all-conference doubles team after posting a 16-5 record and a 6-1 mark inside the league from the No. 1 position.
Maria Hesketh also returns after being named flight champion at the No. 6 singles position. Hesketh defeated six of her seven Big South opponents in straight sets this season.
Coastal opens the 2012 season on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 12:00 p.m. when the Chants host Georgia Southern at the Billy Nichols Tennis Center. The first conference match for the Chanticleers will be Saturday, Feb. 25 when Coastal hosts Liberty at 10 a.m.
The Big South Women's Tennis Conference Championship is slated for April 19-21 on the campus of UNC Asheville.
2012 Big South Conference Preseason Women's Tennis Poll
Team (first place votes) Points
1. Winthrop (7) 79
2. COASTAL (1) 63
3. Charleston Southern 62
4. Liberty (1) 54
5. Campbell 46
6. Gardner-Webb 34
7. UNC Asheville 31
8. Radford 24
9. Presbyterian College 12
