FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2016
Panthers Projected to Repeat as NE-10 Champs
MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Adelphi Panthers have been chosen to defend their Northeast-10 crown, as the NE-10 Women’s Tennis Coaches’ Poll was released by the conference office on Friday morning.
For complete results of the poll, which is voted upon by the league's head coaches, please see below.
Adelphi won its first NE-10 Women’s Tennis Championship in 2015, going undefeated in conference play to collect the regular season crown before ultimately taking down Stonehill, 5-2, in the NE-10 Championship Match. The Panthers finished with a perfect 15-0 mark during the fall season and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament in the spring.
The Panthers, who collected 136 points and six first-place votes in the poll, return all five of their all-conference performers from a season ago. Leading the charge for Adelphi will be reigning NE-10 Championship MVP Elizabeth Kallenberg, who partnered with Samantha Perri to go 11-0 in NE-10 doubles play last season.
Stonehill and Southern New Hampshire tied for the second spot with 127 total points each. The Skyhawks garnered four first-place votes, while the Penmen picked up two first-place nods. Stonehill went 10-2 in NE-10 play last season, reaching the conference finals in the fall and earning an NCAA tournament berth in the spring. SNHU finished second in the NE-10 regular season standings with an 11-1 conference mark in 2015.
Merrimack took fourth with 103 points, followed by Bentley in fifth with 96 points and one first-place vote. Le Moyne was just one point back with 95 to end up sixth, while Assumption was close behind in seventh with 90 points. Saint Anselm (61 pts.), Saint Michael’s (55) and New Haven (46) capped off the top-10. Rounding out the poll were Saint Rose (11th – 36), Franklin Pierce (12th – 26) and American International (13th – 16).
The new season begins on Thursday, Sept. 1, while NE-10 matches are set to start on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The 2016 NE-10 Championship will begin with quarterfinal matches on Wednesday, Oct. 19 with the semifinals set for Friday, Oct. 21. The title match will take place on Sunday, Oct. 23.
2016 NE-10 Preseason Women’s Tennis Coaches’ Poll
1. Adelphi – 136 Pts. (6)
t-2. Stonehill – 127 (4)
t-2. So. New Hampshire – 127 (2)
4. Merrimack – 103
5. Bentley – 96 (1)
6. Le Moyne – 95
7. Assumption – 90
8. Saint Anselm – 61
9. Saint Michael’s – 55
10. New Haven – 46
11. Saint Rose – 36
12. Franklin Pierce – 26
13. American Int’l – 16
(#) – indicates first-place votes
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.