The reigning Sun Conference champions, Keiser Seahawks were selected by the league coaches to claim their second straight title.
The Seahawks were the unanimous favorite in the Sun Conference Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll. Keiser earned seven first-place votes with coaches unable to vote for their own team.
In 2018, the Seahawks ended the year with a 23-3 overall record, finishing Sun Conference play unbeaten, 7-0. Keiser advanced to their second straight NAIA Final Four, falling to No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett 5-2 in the National Championship match. KU's other two losses came to NCAA Division II squads.
The Seahawks are tied with Georgia Gwinnett for the most players ranked in the Top 50 of the country.
Anais Gabriel starts the year at No. 2,
Daniela Farfan at No. 3,
Sarah Schaerer at No. 19,
Lorene Foerste at No. 27,
Melanie Dveksler at No. 39, and
Emma Henriksen at No. 40.
In doubles, Farfan/Schaerer will begin the season in the ninth-spot and Gabriel/Henriksen in the 18
th slot.
Keiser starts the season with a conference match against St. Thomas on Jan. 23 at 2:00 p.m. in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Seahawks will then return home to face SCAD-Savannah on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2:00 p.m. All home matches will be played at South County Regional Tennis Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
The conference tournament will be held at Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Georgia, on April 25
th and 26
th. The site will play host to both the men's and women's semifinal and championship matches.
2019 Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll [First Place Votes]
1) Keiser – 49 [7]
2) SCAD – 42 [1]
3) St. Thomas – 35
4) Coastal Georgia – 28
5) Webber Int'l – 25
6) Warner – 19
7) Southeastern – 18
8) Ave Maria – 8
