Women's Tennis Slotted Fifth in ECC Preseason Poll
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Aug. 26, 2014) - The LIU Post women's tennis team will begin the 2014 season ranked fifth in a preseason coaches' poll tabulated by the East Coast Conference. Additionally, the Pioneers received one of nine first-place votes in the coaches' tally on Tuesday.
The green and gold are coming off of a breakout 2013 campaign. LIU Post finished with a 5-6 record and an appearance in the ECC Tournament. It was the Pioneers' first postseason appearance since 2010. Moreover, junior Lucie Chrastecka (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) was named to the All-ECC second-team. Chrastecka's accolade was the first for a Pioneer tennis player since Morgan Milleisen was voted an All-Conference member in 2009.
Chrastecka is one of three returning players to the roster, as LIU Post brings back its Top-3 singles players and its top doubles pair from 2013. Sophomore Heena Kewalramani (Bangkok, Thailand) teamed with Chrastecka to win five matches over the course of last season and also won five singles flights. Sophomore Laura Harwell (Alabaster, Ala.) returns for the Pioneers as well. Her promising freshman campaign saw three victories at the third-singles spot.
NYIT claimed the top spot in the poll after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2013. The Bears received six first-place votes and 78 points overall. Queens picked up the final two first-place mentions and was ranked second in the conference poll. UDC followed the Knights in third, while newly-eligible Roberts Wesleyan grabbed fourth ahead of the green and gold. For the complete release, please click here.
Head Coach Darrel Bielawski and the Pioneers will begin their season at home on Friday, Sept. 5. LIU Post will host Roberts Wesleyan at 3:30 p.m.
2014 ECC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. NYIT (Six First-Place Votes) - 78 Points
2. Queens (Two First-Place Votes) - 73 Points
3. District of Columbia - 59 Points
4. Roberts Wesleyan - 52 Points
5. LIU Post (One First-Place Vote) - 44 Points
6. Molloy - 37 Points
7. St. Thomas Aquinas - 31 Points
8. Daemen - 16 Points
9. Dowling - 15 Points