NEC RELEASE

Somerset, NJ - The Wagner women's tennis team was picked to finish 10th in the Northeast Conference (NEC) preseason poll as voted on by the league's coaches. Defending champion Fairleigh Dickinson was picked to repeat at champions and received six of the 11 first-place votes.

Last year's NEC runner-up, Quinnipiac, earned a pair of first place votes and finished second in the poll. Bryant, in its first year of postseason eligibility, was tabbed third and picked up three first place nods. LIU Brooklyn came in fourth, followed by Sacred Heart to round out the top-five. In order behind that group was Mount St. Mary's, Saint Francis U, Monmouth, Robert Morris, Wagner and St. Francis Brooklyn.

The Mercer County Tennis Center in West Windsor, NJ will once again serve as the venue for the 11-team championship from April 18-21. The winner of the single-elimination tourney will earn the NEC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament field.

The Seahawks went 2-2 during the fall portion of their schedule and were led by sophomore Julia Teichman (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Germantown Academy), who posted a perfect 4-0 mark at No. 5 singles.

Former Stony Brook standout Salome Mkervalidze will open her Wagner coaching career on February 22 against Akron.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department. Also follow @WagnerWTennis for news and updates on the women's tennis program program.