2017 CCC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll Video

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – After winning its first Commonwealth Coast Conference title since 2010, the Nichols College women's tennis team has been selected defend their title in the CCC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The reigning champions earned 80 points in the poll including eight of the nine first place votes in the voting conducted by the nine CCC women's tennis coaches last week.

Endicott was picked second in this year's poll, accumulating 72 points and the remaining first place vote. Roger Williams and Gordon finished third and fourth in the poll with 62 and 56 points, respectively, while Western New England rounded out the top five with 44.

Eastern Nazarene (30 points), Wentworth (27), Salve Regina (23) and Curry (11) rounded out the poll in that order.

A season ago the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's tennis team qualified for the CCC Tournament for the first time since the 2009 season. With no seniors on that squad, the Leopards should be in the hunt to make a second consecutive tournament appearance in 2017. Senior Sam Webb (Duxbury, Mass.) was one of three players to pick up five wins on the season and she also teamed with another five-win performer, Caitlyn Briggs (Lee, Mass.) for three wins at number one doubles. Senior Emily Jodoin (Burrillville, R.I.) also won five matches for the Black & Gold and picked up four wins in doubles play. Junior Ellen Butts (Brookfield, Mass.) is anticipated to return to the lineup after posting a team-best six wins in doubles play.

The first matches involving CCC teams take place on Friday, Sept. 1 with five non-conference matchups. League play gets going less than a week later on Thursday, Sept. 7. The top six teams in the 2017 regular-season conference standings will qualify for the CCC Tournament. The Tournament gets underway Wednesday, Oct. 11 with the quarterfinals and concludes Saturday, Oct. 21 with the Championship match. The winner of the tournament will be named the CCC Tournament Champion and will earn the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship.

Wentworth opens the 2017 season on Sept. 1 with a match against Worcester State at Regis College.

2017 CCC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

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