CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Western Michigan women's tennis team was tabbed to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference regular season by the Preseason Coaches' Poll, which is voted on by the leagues' head coaches.
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"There is so much parody in our league again this year," commented WMU head coach
Ryan Tomlinson. "I really think five or six teams could win it. Each week in our league you have to be ready to play. A lot of things have to go your way in order to win conference titles."
In a close vote, Buffalo was picked to take win the regular season this year after taking the second-ever MAC Women's Tennis Tournament Championship last season. The Bulls received 79 votes and second-place Miami received 73 votes. The 2017 MAC regular season champions. Ball State, was tabbed to finish third with 59 votes.
Rounding out the top four was Western Michigan, who finished 10-13 overall, 4-4 in the conference and made a trip to the MAC Tournament as the No. 6 seed. The Broncos have proven to be strong at home after finishing 34-9 in the last four seasons including a 6-4 record last season.
Throughout the fall, the team competed in four different tournaments, finishing with an overall record of 25-28 in singles led by sophomore
Gabriela Slavova who boasted a 6-4 record. Four other Broncos tallied four wins including juniors
Denise Azcui and
Melina Lyubomirova and freshman
Jeryn Jack.
The duo of Azcui and Lyubomirova led the Brown and Gold in doubles play last fall as the juniors went 3-4 overall against their competition.
The Broncos resumed the 2017-18 season with a 5-2 win over Oakland last Saturday, Jan. 13 inside West Hills Athletic Club and will take to the road for their next five matches. WMU heads to Bloomington, Ind. for a pair of contests on Saturday, Jan. 20 against Indiana and Butler.
The next home event is scheduled for Feb. 3 as the Brown and Gold welcomes IUPUI (1 p.m.) and Hillsdale College (6 p.m.). Admission to all women's tennis home matches is free.
2018 MAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll Voting
1. Buffalo (79)
2. Miami (73)
3. Ball State (59)
4. Western Michigan (42)
t-5. Akron (40)
t-5. Bowling Green (40)
7. Toledo (38)
8. Northern Illinois (20)
9. Eastern Michigan (14)
(total points based on 9 for a first-place vote; 8 for second-place, etc.)
First place votes: Buffalo (7), Miami (2).
Tournament winner votes: Buffalo (4), Miami (4), Ball State (1).
