Wingate Voted as Preseason Favorite in SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

January 24, 2025

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Wingate Bulldogs received 11 of 13 first-place votes to be named the preseason favorite in the 2025 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Wingate is coming off a fourth straight SAC Regular Season title in 2024 as they look to make it five in a row this season. The Bulldogs were 22-3 in 2024 with a perfect 12-0 mark in league play. In NCAA Tournament play, Wingate made a run to the National Quarterfinals and dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Midwestern St. They became the furthest advancing team in SAC history with that run.

Catawba garnered two first-place votes after beating Wingate in the SAC Tournament title game. Catawba won 16 games in 2024 and were 8-4 in SAC play and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.

Lenoir-Rhyne came in third in the poll, just one point behind Catawba with 117. Reigning SAC Freshman of the Year Runa Muderrisoglu leads the talented returners for LR who went 14-5 and finished tied for second in the SAC with a 9-3 mark.

Carson-Newman and Newberry tied for the number four spot in the poll, each earning 102 points. The Eagles finished 11-8 (8-4) while Newberry was 12-6 (7-5) a year ago.

Limestone was voted to finish sixth with 87 points, one spot ahead of Tusculum who earned 73 points.

Anderson slotted in at eighth in the coaches' vote, while Coker was ninth, just one point behind the Trojans.

Lincoln Memorial, UVA Wise, Emory & Henry and Mars Hill rounded out the voting.

On top of the coaches' poll, the league announced its First and Second Team Preseason All-Conference along with the Players to Watch for the 2025 campaign.

The SAC Championship will take place on April 16-18 at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C.

2025 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank School (first place votes) Points

1. Wingate (11) 143

2. Catawba (2) 118

3. Lenoir-Rhyne 117

4t. Carson-Newman 102

4t. Newberry 102

6. Limestone 87

7. Tusculum 73

8. Anderson 69

9. Coker 68

10. Lincoln Memorial 56

11. UVA Wise 40

12. Emory & Henry 22

13. Mars Hill 17

2025 SAC Women's Tennis Conference

First Team Doubles

Runa Muderrisoglu / Claudia Orsini, Lenoir-Rhyne
Chloe Kosmrlj / Claudia Vallejos, Wingate
Emmerson Banning / Jade Bellegy, Coker

Second Team Doubles

Fernanda Castillo / Suzuka Sambyakugari, Wingate
Adriana Pellizzari/Carla Ramonet, Lincoln Memorial
Ami Miya / Anna Wise, Catawba

First Team Singles

Chloe Kosmrlj, Wingate
Ami Miya, Catawba
Runa Muderrisoglu, Lenoir-Rhyne
Elodie Baechler, Tusculum
Suzuka Sambyakugari, Wingate
Fernanda Castillo, Wingate

Second Team Singles

Jade Bellergy, Coker
Monika Temkova, Limestone
Emma Arnal, Newberry
Nellie Wahlberg, Lenoir-Rhyne
Claudia Vallejos, Wingate
Adriana Pellizzari, Lincoln Memorial

Players to Watch:

Hannah Frazer, Mars Hill
Shakti Mishra, Mars Hill
Ellyson Kovacs, Emory & Henry
Tahnne Sesma, Emory & Henry
Valentina Borda, Anderson
Alexandria Braithwaite, Anderson
Constança Azinhaga, UVA Wise
Lucy Cunliffe, UVA Wise
Edisa Hot, Carson-Newman
Leah McBride, Carson-Newman