ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri Valley Conference has released its preseason poll prior to the start of the 2023 spring season. The Drake Bulldogs were selected to finish fourth with 53 total points.
The Bulldogs will look to build upon a solid fall 2022 campaign with a new leader. In late October, Breaunna Addison was hired as Drake's newest head women's tennis coach. Addison brings a deep well of tennis knowledge after a remarkable prep and collegiate before coaching stops at LAT Tennis Academy, Miami University, and Howard University.
Drake saw both team and individual success in the fall. As a group, the Dogs ended the autumn schedule with a victory at their own Bulldog Invite (10/30). At the MVC Championships, senior
Rebecca Ehn captured the Flight 5 championship while the doubles pairing of
Darinka Stepan and
Mille Haagensen rolled through the Flight 2 bracket to a title. Due to Addison's late arrival on campus, the Bulldogs' spring schedule is still being finalized.
MVC-newcomer Belmont took the top spot in the poll with 75 total points and six first-place votes. Another new squad, UIC, garnered the remainder of the first-place selections with three as the Flames were chosen third, just behind Illinois State in second.
2023 MVC WOMEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (First-place votes) |
| 1. |
Belmont |
75 (6) |
| 2. |
Illinois State |
67 |
| 3. |
UIC |
65 (3) |
| 4. |
Drake |
53 |
| 5. |
Murray State |
50 |
| 6. |
Valparaiso |
35 |
| 7. |
Bradley |
27 |
| 8. |
Missouri State |
22 |
| 9. |
UNI |
11 |
