Monmouth Men and Quinnipiac Women Selected as MAAC Tennis Preseason Favorites
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that the Monmouth University men and Quinnipiac University women, have been tabbed tennis Preseason favorites. The Hawks received six first place votes, while the Bobcats were a unanimous selection on the women’s side.
Monmouth, the two-time defending MAAC Men’s Tennis Champions, have appeared in the championship match every year since becoming a conference member in 2013-14. The Hawks return the 2017 MAAC Most Outstanding Male Player, junior Nicola Pipoli. Monmouth received six first place votes, totaling 61 points overall.
Marist College followed Monmouth in the men’s tennis poll, as they received two first place votes and 57 total points. Marist returns 2017 MAAC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year, senior Javier Restrepo and 2017 MAAC Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Year, sophomore Christopher Gladden. Quinnipiac rounded out the top three with 50 points.
Fairfield University (38) was selected fourth in the poll, followed by Siena College (28) in fifth, and Niagara University (24) in sixth. Saint Peter’s University (20), and Rider University (10) rounded out the Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
On the women’s side, Quinnipiac was unanimously selected first in the Preseason Poll, and totaled 64 points. The Bobcats have won all four MAAC Women’s Tennis Championships they have competed in dating to 2014. The Bobcats return 2017 MAAC Most Outstanding Female Player, junior Jennifer Lu, and 2017 MAAC Women’s Tennis Rookie of the Year, sophomore Layla Rodriguez.
Quinnipiac is followed by Siena, who received 56 points in the preseason poll. The Saints fell to the Bobcats in the 2017 MAAC Women’s Championship match, 4-2. Siena returns five All-MAAC Women’s Tennis Second Teamers, seniors Rina Sakai and Ivana Boberic, juniors Natalie Weaver and Anessa Leyva, and sophomore Juliana Goehner.
Marist (43) was chosen third, followed by Fairfield (40) in fourth, and Niagara (37) in fifth place. Monmouth (23), Rider (16), and Saint Peter’s (9) complete the Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll in the final three slots.
| Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll |
| 1. |
Monmouth (6) |
61 |
| 2. |
Marist (2) |
57 |
| 3. |
Quinnipiac |
50 |
| 4. |
Fairfield |
38 |
| 5. |
Siena |
28 |
| 6. |
Niagara |
24 |
| 7. |
Saint Peter’s |
20 |
| 8. |
Rider |
10 |
| Women’s Tennis Preseason Poll |
| 1. |
Quinnipiac (8) |
64 |
| 2. |
Siena |
56 |
| 3. |
Marist |
43 |
| 4. |
Fairfield |
40 |
| 5. |
Niagara |
37 |
| 6. |
Monmouth |
23 |
| 7. |
Rider |
16 |
| 8. |
Saint Peter’s |
9 |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37
th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.