Two Lions Tabbed Preseason All-Conference
February 1, 2013ROCK HILL, S.C.—The Mars Hill women’s tennis team was picked to finish sixth in the South Atlantic Conference by the league’s coaches in a poll released Friday. Two Lions were named preseason all-conference.
The Lions received 37 points in the poll, six behind fifth-place Newberry. Last season, Mars Hill finished sixth in the SAC with a 5-4 conference record and finished 9-10 overall. Tatiana Dualiby was named 2013 SAC Preseason All-Conference, earning First Team Singles honors, and was joined by Anna Rickenbaker as a First Team Doubles pairing. This season will be the Lions’ first under new head coach John Hunter.
Dualiby earned First-Team All-SAC recognition last season after going 8-1 in conference singles matches. The junior went 13-5 overall last season playing the No. 2 position for the Lions. She is expected to play in the No. 1 singles court this year.
Dualiby and Rickenbaker earned First Team honors as a doubles pairing. While the two did not play together last season, they are expected to play as Mars Hill’s top doubles pairing this year. Rickenbaker was 12-7 in singles play last season.
Dualiby and Rickenbaker are the only two returning Lions who saw action last season. Junior Klara Rossouw, freshman Alison Fridley and Natalie Hilbig and redshirt freshman Marian Pinate fill out the MHC roster.
Mars Hill opens its season this Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1:00 p.m. when they host Lander. The Lions open conference play Friday, Feb. 22 when they host Catawba.
Two-time defending SAC champion Wingate was picked to repeat as league champion. The Bulldogs received eight first-place votes, and have a 17-1 record in SAC matches over the past two seasons.
Anderson finished second with one first-place vote, while Tusculum also earned a first-place vote and finished third in the poll.
The complete preseason poll and preseason all-conference rosters are listed below.
2013 SAC Women’s Tennis Preseason Poll
Place. School, points (first-place votes)
1. Wingate, 80 (8)
2. Anderson, 69 (1)
3. Tusculum, 63 (1)
4. Lincoln Memorial, 59
5. Newberry, 43
6. Mars Hill, 39
7. Catawba, 33
8. Brevard, 27
Carson-Newman, 27
10. Lenoir-Rhyne, 9
2013 SAC Women’s Tennis Preseason All-Conference Team
Name(s), School
First Team
Singles
Leah Donoff, Lincoln Memorial
Ali Evers, Wingate
Claire Dillman, Brevard
Tatiana Dualiby, Mars Hill
Becca Thomas, Wingate
Susana Aguirre, Newberry
Doubles
Ali Evers/Becca Thomas, Wingate
Claire Dillman/Michelle Prata, Brevard
Anna Rickenbaker/Tatiana Dualiby, Mars Hill
Second Team
Singles
Ariel Strong, Newberry
Avery Owens, Anderson
Camie Brunet, Anderson
Taylor Patterson, Tusculum
Morgan Winston, Wingate
Kate Hutchinson, Tusculum*
Kelli Ferguson, Wingate*
Doubles
Stefy Stand/Patricia Guerriero, Carson-Newman
Taylor Patterson/Megan Buckmaster, Tusculum
Susan Aguirre/Romina Adum, Newberry
*Denotes tied for final spot
