USA South releases spring preseason
coaches polls
Fayetteville, NC
- The USA South Conference has
released its spring preseason
coaches polls for softball,
lacrosse, tennis, and golf. Under
the direction of John Brackett,
Wesleyan softball was picked the
highest among Bishop squads, coming
in fourth with 33 points and two
first place votes. Coach Lorin
Titus’ lacrosse squad was picked
sixth, while Jacy Whiddon’s men’s
and women’s tennis teams each came
in seventh. Coach Dan Dalton’s golf
squad was also picked seventh.
SOFTBALL
Methodist University was picked to
win the 2007 USA South Conference
softball title in this season’s
poll. The Monarchs were both the
conference regular season and
tournament champions in 2006. MU
received five of eight first-place
votes (46 points) as head coaches do
not vote for their own teams in the
balloting.
Greensboro College finished second
as The Pride received 39 points and
one first-place vote. Followed
closely behind were Christopher
Newport University and Wesleyan. The
Bishops return nine starters and
four All-Conference performers from
last year’s 20-18 squad. Leading
the way are juniors Ashlee Bass and
Libby Fulford. Bass earned
All-American honors last season
after batting an impressive .500 on
the year, while Fulford recorded 13
wins in the circle and a solid 1.78
earned run average. Both were
All-Tournament selections last
spring after leading the Bishops to
a third place finish.
Wesleyan softball kicks off its 2007
slate on March 2nd at the Virginia
Wesleyan Invitational. The USA
South Softball Tournament will
played at Springwood Park in
Burlington, NC on April 13-15.
Below are complete results from the
poll.
|
2007 USA South Softball
Coaches Poll |
|
Rank |
Institution (1st place
Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Methodist (5) |
46 |
|
2. |
Greensboro (1) |
39 |
|
3. |
Christopher Newport |
35 |
|
4 |
N.C. Wesleyan (2) |
33 |
|
5. |
Ferrum |
29 |
|
6. |
Peace |
19 |
|
7. |
Shenandoah |
16 |
|
8. |
Averett |
7 |
LACROSSE
Christopher Newport University,
under the direction of sixth-year
Head Coach Kwame Lloyd, was picked
to win the 2007 USA South Conference
lacrosse title. Last spring, the
Captains captured the program's
first USA South Tournament title and
earned a birth in the NCAA
Tournament. CNU received six of
seven first-place votes (36
points). Greensboro College, the
defending regular season champions,
finished second in the balloting as
The Pride received 31 points and the
remaining first-place vote.
Second-year head coach Lorin Titus’
squad received 11 votes and a
sixth-place billing after last
year’s 3-12 inaugural season. She
returns seven starters, including
Honorable Mention All-Conference
defender Alexa Ashworth. With eight
returners, the Bishops will likely
benefit from a year’s experience,
while eight newcomers will hopefully
provide much-needed depth.
Bishop lacrosse kicks off its
schedule on February 22nd at Trinity
University. The 2007 USA South
Lacrosse Tournament will played at
Springwood Park in Burlington, NC on
April 14-15.
Below are complete results from the
poll.
|
2007 USA South Lacrosse
Coaches Poll |
|
Rank |
Institution (1st place
Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Christopher Newport (6) |
36 |
|
2. |
Greensboro (1) |
31 |
|
3. |
Methodist |
26 |
|
4. |
Averett |
19 |
|
5. |
Shenandoah |
17 |
|
6. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
11 |
|
7. |
Ferrum |
7 |
TENNIS
Christopher Newport University was
chosen to win the 2007 USA South
Athletic Conference tennis title on
both the men's and women's side.
The Captain menreceived five of
seven first-place votes (35
points). CNU captured both the USA
South Regular Season and Tournament
Championships last spring.
Methodist University finished second
in the balloting with 32 points and
the remaining two first-place votes.
The Bishop men were tabbed seventh
after posting a 2-12 record last
season. Honorable Mention
All-Conference performer Zach Marks
highlights a roster of seven for
Coach Jacy Whiddon’s squad.
As for the women, CNU received six
of eight first-place votes and 48
total points. The Lady Captains
captured last season's conference
tournament championship. Methodist
University, the six-time defending
regular season champions, finished
second in the balloting with 44
points and the remaining two
first-place votes.
Wesleyan was picked seventh with 13
points, finishing ahead of Averett
in the balloting. The Bishops, who
were 2-12 last season and earned
their first USA South victory, will
be led by First Team All-Conference
performer Jenna Gollub. Coach
Whiddon’s 2007 roster returns her
top three singles players from 2006.
The Bishop men open up 2007 at home
versus Winston Salem State on
February 15th, while the women open
up 2007 play on February 23rd at
Salem College. The 2007 USA South
Men's and Women's Tournaments will
be played at the Burlington Tennis
Center in Burlington, NC on April
13-15.
Below are complete results from the
polls.
|
2007 USA South Men's Tennis
Coaches Poll |
|
Rank |
Institution (1st place
Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Christopher Newport (5) |
35 |
|
2. |
Methodist (2) |
32 |
|
3. |
Averett |
21 |
|
t-4. |
Ferrum |
20 |
|
t-4. |
Greensboro |
20 |
|
6. |
Shenandoah |
11 |
|
7. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
8 |
|
2007 USA South Women's
Tennis Coaches Poll |
|
Rank |
Institution (1st place
Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Christopher Newport (6) |
48 |
|
2. |
Methodist (2) |
44 |
|
t-3. |
Shenandoah |
31 |
|
t-3. |
Greensboro |
31 |
|
5. |
Peace |
29 |
|
6. |
Ferrum |
18 |
|
7. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
13 |
|
8. |
Averett |
10 |
GOLF
Methodist University, under the
direction of 20th-year Head Coach
Steve Conley, was picked to win the
2007 USA South Conference golf
title. The Monarchs are the
four-time defending USA South
champions, their 24th all-time
title, and appeared in their 25th
NCAA Tournament last spring.
Methodist received six of seven
first-place votes (36 points). CNU,
the 2006 Conference runner-ups,
finished second in the balloting
with 30 points and the remaining
first-place vote.
Second-year head coach Dan Dalton’s
squad was picked seventh. The
Bishops will likely be led by senior
Steve Lee, who turned in a team-best
78.8 stroke average during fall
competition. Freshman Blair Crews
was second on the squad at 79.2.
Wesleyan kicks off its 2007 spring
schedule on February 26th and 27th
when the Bishops host their annual
Don Scalf Invitational. The 2007
USA South Golf Tournament will
played on the par-72, 7130-yard
Stoney Creek Golf Course in
Burlington, NC on April 14-15.
Below are complete results from the
poll.
|
2007 USA South Golf Coaches
Poll |
|
Rank |
Institution (1st place
Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Methodist (6) |
36 |
|
2. |
Christopher Newport (1) |
30 |
|
t-3. |
Greensboro |
24 |
|
t-3. |
Averett |
24 |
|
5. |
Shenandoah |
15 |
|
6. |
Ferrum |
12 |
|
7. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
6 |
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