January 30, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

Christopher Newport & Methodist Share Top Spot
in USA South Women's Tennis Preseason Poll

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Christopher Newport University, led by seventh-year Head Coach Jenny Nuttycombe and Methodist University, under the direction of third-year Head Coach Francie Barragan, each received the same amount of votes to sit atop the 2008 USA South Athletic Conference women's tennis preseason coaches' poll. Last spring, the Monarchs captured their first USA South Tournament Championship by defeating the Captains in the finals. The Captains ended the Monarchs run of six consecutive regular season titles by capturing the program's second-ever championship.

Christopher Newport and Methodist received five of ten first-place votes and 77 total points as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

USA South newcomer, Meredith College, finished third in the balloting with 62 points while Shenandoah University, who finished third in the Conference last season, placed fourth in the poll with 56 points. Rounding out the top-half of the poll was Greensboro College with 51 points.

The 2008 USA South Women's Tennis Tournament will once again be played at the Burlington Tennis Center in Burlington, N.C. on April 18-20.

2008 USA South Women's Tennis Coaches Poll
Rank	Institution (1st place Votes)	Pts.
t-1.	Christopher Newport (5)	77
t-1.	Methodist (5)	77
3.	Meredith	62
4.	Shenandoah	56
5.	Greensboro	51
6.	Peace	36
7.	Mary Baldwin	29
8.	N.C. Wesleyan	25
9.	Ferrum	20
10.	Averett	17