2016 NAIA Women?s Tennis Coaches? Preseason Top 25 Poll ? Jan. 26
By Colbi Howser, Communications and Sports Information Intern
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending national champion Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) starts its 2016 season with a No. 1 ranking in the preseason edition of the NAIA Women’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The first regular season poll will be released Feb. 16.
Top 25 Highlights (highlights dating back to 2000):
• After claiming its 10th national title in the last 12 seasons, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) starts its season with a No. 1 ranking, collecting 11-of-12 first-place votes and 312 total points.
• The Warhawks start their year on Feb. 5 against Dalton State (Ga.).
• Georgia Gwinnett, the 2015 national runner-up, enters the season at No. 2 with one first-place vote and 302 total points.
• No. 25 Ottawa (Kan.) makes its way into the Top 25 for the first time is program history. The Braves start their season Jan. 29 against Nebraska Wesleyan.
• Five other teams see Top 25 action including: No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 18 McPherson (Kan.), No. 21 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.), No. 23 Marian (Ind.) and No. 24 Campbellsville (Ky.).
• Eleven conferences/Association of Independent Institutions/unaffiliated groups are represented throughout the Top 25, led by four programs from The Southern States Athletic Conference. Four conferences/unaffiliated groups are tied for second with three teams ranked apiece.
• Auburn Montgomery and former member Fresco Pacific (Calif.) are the only teams to go the entire season ranked No. 1.
• Auburn Montgomery has the most No. 1 rakings in the Top 25 (73), Georgia Gwinnett and Brenau (Ga.) are second with 12 each.
Poll Methodology:
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions. For the entire 2015 NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll schedule, click here.
2016 NAIA Women’s Tennis Coaches’ Preseason – (Jan. 26)
| RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL | WON | LOST | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (11) | 23 | 4 | 312 |
| 2 | 2 | Georgia Gwinnett (1) | 11 | 7 | 302 |
| 3 | 3 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 17 | 8 | 290 |
| 4 | 5 | SCAD Savannah (Ga.) | 13 | 5 | 279 |
| 5 | 8 | Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) | 0 | 0 | 263 |
| 6 | 9 | William Carey (Miss.) | 12 | 8 | 250 |
| 7 | 10 | Brenau (Ga.) | 12 | 6 | 238 |
| 8 | 7 | Keiser (Fla.) | 10 | 7 | 237 |
| 9 | 13 | Westmont (Calif.) | 15 | 9 | 234 |
| 10 | 11 | Arizona Christian | 23 | 3 | 220 |
| 11 | 4 | Xavier (La.) | 17 | 10 | 212 |
| 12 | 14 | Northwestern Ohio | 19 | 6 | 207 |
| 13 | 15 | Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) | 9 | 12 | 187 |
| 14 | 18 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 12 | 8 | 179 |
| 15 | 23 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 0 | 1 | 173 |
| 16 | RV | Indiana Wesleyan | 15 | 0 | 168 |
| 17 | 22 | Davenport (Mich.) | 16 | 10 | 150 |
| 18 | RV | McPherson (Kan.) | 14 | 7 | 142 |
| 19 | 24 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 12 | 5 | 114 |
| 20 | 25 | Coastal Georgia | 9 | 7 | 112 |
| 21 | RV | SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) | 6 | 9 | 104 |
| 22 | 17 | Evangel (Mo.) | 0 | 0 | 98 |
| 23 | RV | Marian (Ind.) | 9 | 2 | 87 |
| 24 | RV | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 12 | 10 | 70 |
| 25 | NR | Ottawa (Kan.) | 12 | 10 | 63 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Graceland (Iowa), LSU Alexandria (La.), Vanguard (Calif.), Concordia (Calif.), Oklahoma Baptist
Receiving Votes: St. Thomas (Fla.) 58, Reinhardt (Ga.) 40, Southwestern (Kan.) 37, Dalton State (Ga.) 35, Aquinas (Mich.) 26, Baker (Kan.) 21, Morningside (Iowa) 18, San Diego Christian (Calif.) 9, Georgetown (Ky.) 8, Missouri Baptist 7, Huntington (Ind.) 7, St. Francis (Ill.) 4, Asbury (Ky.) 4, Milligan (Tenn.) 3
