EDISON, N.J. – According to the head coaches’ preseason poll, the Fairfield University women’s tennis team was selected as the favorite to win the MAAC Championship in 2013, while the men’s team was selected to finish second in the conference.
The Fairfield women, who won the MAAC Championship in 2012, received 61 points in the preseason poll. The Stags hold a 23-match win streak in MAAC play, not having dropped to a MAAC opponent during the regular season since April 4, 2009. Fairfield is led by head coach Ed Paige and returns All-MAAC First Team selections of Monica Yajima, Sharissa Ryan, Carolina Koladzyn and Nikki Jackson. Yajima was also named 2012 Player of the Year, her second time in as many years earning the award.
Loyola was second in the women’s poll with 54 points, followed by Marist with 53. Niagara finished fourth with 33 and Saint Peter’s was fifth with 31. Siena (29), Manhattan (19) and Rider (8) rounded out the poll.
The Fairfield men’s tennis team placed second in the poll with 40 points behind Marist College with 49 points. After one of the best seasons in program history which included capturing the 2012 MAAC Championship title, the Stags return All-MAAC First Team doubles performers Erik Kremheller, Ian Tesmond, Dennis Zlobinsky and Cameron Amyot.
The Red Foxes, led by 15th-year head coach and 2012 Coach of the Year Tim Smith, return All-MAAC Player of the Year Lorenzo Rossi, All-MAAC Rookie of the Year Joseph Dube.
Niagara finished third in the poll with 37 points and Saint Peter’s finished fourth with 25. Siena finished fifth with 20, followed by Loyola (18) and Rider (8).
The 2013 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships will take place at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, New Jersey from April 27-28.
