January 24, 2012

Elliott Named Preseason All-SAC; Lady Eagles Picked Eighth

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman senior Kylie Elliott (Maryville, Tenn.) has been named to the 2012 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Women’s Tennis team. Elliott earns second team accolades after playing at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles throughout much of her junior season. The Maryville, Tenn. native played through injury during her entire junior season.

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman senior Kylie Elliott (Maryville, Tenn.) has been named to the 2012 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis team.

Elliott earns second team accolades after playing at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles throughout much of her junior season. The Maryville, Tenn. native played through injury during her entire junior season.

As a team, the Lady Eagles were selected eighth in the poll, picked to finish behind Newberry by a single point. Carson-Newman has six returners from last season's 9-10 team that won five of its last seven matches.

C-N opens its season against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) on Feb. 17.

Wingate has earned the top spot in the 2012 SAC women's tennis preseason poll, which was voted on by the conference's head coaches, it was announced on Tuesday.

The defending conference champion Bulldogs received 96 points and seven first place-votes to take the top spot. WU's lineup will be anchored by 2011 SAC Freshman of the Year and 2012 preseason All-SAC First Team selection Ali Evers. Evers is currently rated 16^th in the ITA Southeast Region Rankings, which are based off fall tournament results.

She is joined on the Bulldogs' roster by preseason All-SAC First Team selections Morgan Winston and Olivia Poole.

No. 2 in the poll is Anderson, which totaled 84 points coming off its first season in the SAC. The Trojans bring back Lauren Trumbull, a preseason All-SAC First Team selection, and junior Camie Beaulieu-Brunet, who is currently ranked 18^th in the Southeast Region.

Picked to finish third is Lincoln Memorial with 77 points followed by Tusculum, which tallied 66 points, including two first-place votes.

LMU placed two players on the preseason All-Conference First Team in Leah Donoff and Sofia Lopez Mimendi.

Mars Hill was selected to finish fifth with 61 points and one first-place vote. The Lions' lineup will be led by 2011 SAC Player of the Year Erika Pinate.

Behind MHC was Brevard at No. 6 and Newberry at No. 7. Lindsay Hostetter is back for her final season at Brevard and was named to the preseason All-SAC First Team.

The top six teams in the final standings will advance to the 2012 Food Lion SAC Championship. This season's tournament will again be held in Rock Hill, S.C. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center on April 19-22.

2012 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll

Team - Points (1st-place votes)

1. Wingate - 96 (7)

2. Anderson - 84

3. Lincoln Memorial - 77

4. Tusculum - 66 (2)

5. Mars Hill - 61 (1)

6. Brevard - 55

7. Newberry - 37

8. Carson-Newman - 36

9. Catawba - 28

10. Lenoir-Rhyne - 10