W. Tennis is Fifth in Skyline Preseason Coaches Poll

Press Release from the Skyline Conference

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Farmingdale State has selected to win the 2014 Skyline women's tennis championship in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. 

The Rams earned five first-place votes and 25 overall points, while 2013 runner-up Purchase garnered 20 total points and one first-place vote to finish second in the voting. 

Following the program's first-ever Skyline crown, FSC will be led by senior Jessica Sickles as it seeks to defend its title in 2014.  A two-time All-Conference first-team honoree, Sickles earned nine victories at the No. 1 singles flight a year ago, including a 6-3, 6-0 decision versus Endicott in the opening round of the NCAA Championship.  

Purchase welcomes back sophomore Angela Assal, who registered a 7-2 mark at first singles and added six wins in doubles action en route to earning 2013 Skyline Rookie of the Year distinction.  Mount Saint Mary finished third in the voting with 15 points, followed by Sage (14), St. Joseph's-L.I. (11) and Yeshiva (5).  Seeking its first-ever league title, Sage will be anchored by two-time Skyline Player of the Year Kirsten Ackerman. 

The semifinals of the four-team 2014 Skyline Women's Tennis Championship will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 22.  The title match will be played on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the highest remaining seed.  The winner will earn the league's automatic berth in the 2015 NCAA Championship. 

The Skyline also welcomes its newest member, Sarah Lawrence College, to the conference this season.  SLC will play every member institution in 2014 but will not be eligible for Skyline and NCAA Championship participation as it completes its final year of NCAA Division III provisional membership.           

2014 Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Farmingdale State (5) 25 points
2. Purchase (1) - 20 points
3. Mount Saint Mary - 15 points
4. Sage - 14 points
5. St. Joseph's-L.I. - 11 points
6. Yeshiva - 5 points

First-place votes in parentheses