Posted: Jan 31, 2014
Two ODAC squads enter the 2014 spring campaign ranked in the ITA South Atlantic Region.� Washington and Lee holds down the sixth position, while also attaining a #22 national ranking.� Roanoke is slotted 19th in the regional poll.� After placing second at the ITA Small College Championships in the fall, Meighan enters the spring ranked #2 in the region, while Buell sits in the 17th position.� The doubles team of Kirkland and Meighan opens as the top-ranked tandem, while Buell and Chelsea Mixson hold down the 10th position.
Washington and Lee (19-8 overall, 11-0 in the ODAC last spring) welcomes back six all-conference standouts, each from the All-ODAC First Team.� Meighan (12-3 overall, 12-3 at #1), Buell (11-3, 9-3 at #2), Kirkland (7-1, 5-1 at #3) and Mixson (9-5, 3-4 at #6) earned recognition as singles players (#1, #2, #3 and #6, respectively).� Kirkland and Meighan (12-3, 9-3 at #1), Buell and Cameron Dorsey (8-1, 7-1 at #2), and captains Claire Cahill and Mixson (7-5, 2-5 at #3) formed the first team doubles honorees at each of the three ladder positions, sequentially.� Meighan won the ITA Southeast Regional singles title this fall, while she and Kirkland combined to win the doubles crown.
Roanoke's (14-4, 10-1) new coach, Daniel Ragsdale, welcomes back several all-conference returners, including first team #1 singles player Jennifer Antoszyk (7-1, 7-1 at #1) this season.� She also claimed a spot on the All-ODAC Second Team as one part of RC's #1 doubles team (4-4, 4-4 at #1).� Antoszyk is joined on the second team by #4 and #5 singles players Briell Smith (11-3, 4-2 at #4) and Kristen McDowell (10-2, 2-1 at #5).� McDowell and fellow returnee Brianna Carroll (6-3, 6-3 at #3) secured All-ODAC Third Team accolades at #3 doubles.� Kaitlyn Diskerud (9-4, 4-2 at #6) also earned third team laurels at #6 singles.
The Roanoke College women's tennis program is coming off of one of its best seasons in program history. �The Maroons set single season records in both overall wins (14) and ODAC victories (10). Roanoke also reached its first ODAC Championship game in school history, defeating Hollins 5-3 to reach the title match. �The Maroons posted a 10-0 record at the Elizabeth Campus Courts, the squad's home courts.
Roanoke begins its season against #12 regionally ranked Christopher Newport University on February 15th.� On the same day, the Maroons will play against #9 ranked Methodist Unviersity, playing top teams in Roanoke's opening contests.� On February 16th, the Maroons will take on #5 ranked University of Mary Washington as well.� On February 22nd, Roanoke hosts its home opener against Ferrum and Southern Virginia.
The 2014 women's tennis season begins on Saturday, February 15.� For more information on ODAC women's tennis, visit any of the participating schools' websites or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.� Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.
2014 ODAC WOMEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
| 1. Washington and Lee (11) | 121 pts. |
| 2. Roanoke | 98 pts. |
| 3. Bridgewater (1) | 90 pts. |
| 4. Virginia Wesleyan | 82 pts. |
| 5. Randolph-Macon | 77 pts. |
| 6. Randolph | 63 pts. |
| 7. Guilford | 57 pts. |
| 7. Sweet Briar | 57 pts. |
| 9. Hollins | 56 pts. |
| 10. Emory & Henry | 47 pts. |
| 11. Shenandoah | 31 pts. |
| 12. Lynchburg | 13 pts. |