Bryant picked third in NEC preseason poll

SOMERSET, N.J. – The Bryant University women's tennis team was selected to finish third in the Northeast Conference in a poll of the league's eight head coaches, as announced Friday by the NEC office.

Bryant received one first-place vote to finish behind Fairleigh Dickinson and defending champ LIU. The Knights earned four first-place votes, while the Sharks claimed the other three. Sacred Heart and SFU tied for fourth, Wagner was picked sixth and Mount St. Mary's and St. Francis Brooklyn were tied for seventh in the poll.

The Bulldogs have advanced to the NEC Championship match three times in program history (2015, 2016 and 2018). Bryant was eliminated in the semis last spring by preseason favorite FDU.

The Black and Gold return two All-NEC selections and three All-Rookie selections to their lineup this spring. Arianna Oropeza (Weston, Fla.), the 2018 NEC Rookie of the Year, leads the way with a 33-18 career singles record.

Bryant will play its first NEC match of the season on Feb. 22 when it hosts preseason favorite FDU at Rally Point in Greenville. The match is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.