BUFFALO – The Mid-American Conference announced the 2017 women’s tennis preseason poll on Friday morning and the University at Buffalo women’s tennis team has been selected as the favorites to win the regular season title and are co-favorites to win the tournament title.
In an extremely narrow vote, a total of six votes separate the top four MAC women’s tennis programs as Buffalo received 68 votes, one more than second-place Ball State (67 votes). Third-place Miami (65 votes) and fourth-place Western Michigan (62 votes) round out the top four.
Buffalo and Ball State each received three votes to win the conference tournament, while Miami received two votes and Western Michigan received one.
“The preseason poll is a reflection of how hard our team fought all season long last year, especially in the conference tournament,” said assistant coach Smaranda Stan. “While we continue to have a lot of work to do, this team works harder and is more determined than any other team we have had. We are excited about being recognized by the fellow coaches across the league, but in the end it is our performance during the season that will determine our legacy.”
The Bulls will be led by junior Tanja Stojanovska, a two-time All-MAC First Team selection in both 2015 and 2016, and sophomore Chantal Martinez Blanco, a 2016 All-MAC Second Team selection. Stojanovska, a native of Ohrid, Macedonia, last year was No. 1 at both singles and doubles and posted a singles record of 13-7 overall, including 5-3 in MAC play, while adding a 12-4 doubles overall mark, including 4-2 in the MAC. Martinez Blanco, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was 12-8 overall in singles, including 5-3 in MAC play, while adding a 10-7 overall record, 3-3 in the MAC.
The Bulls also welcome back returning seniors Laura Holterbosch and Margarita Kotok and sophomores Mercedes Losada Rubio and Sanjana Sudhir. They welcome in newcomers Hayley Hollins, a transfer from Niagara, as well as freshmen Emiel Abibula and Anna Savchenko. As a team, the Bulls had an impressive fall campaign with a combined 54-24 singles record and a 19-14 doubles mark.
The spring season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 3 when the Bulls host St. Bonaventure.
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