MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University women's tennis team was selected third in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released Thursday.

Defending NE10 Champion Adelphi University finished atop the poll with 63 points after securing seven of a possible eight first-place votes. The University of New Haven collected the two remaining first-place votes and 55 points to place second, just ahead of SNHU, which won a share of the NE10 Regular-Season Championship a year ago, and earned 53 points. Assumption University (38), Franklin Pierce University (33) and Bentley University (28) made up the middle of the poll, while Saint Anselm College (26), American International College (16) and Saint Michael's College (12) rounded it out.

Greg Coache enters his 18th season, coming off a 10-5 campaign that included a 7-1 mark in NE10 play and the program's seventh NE10 regular-season title. The Penmen dropped a 4-2 decision in the NE10 title match to Adelphi.

Southern New Hampshire returns a trio of players that earned NE10 All-Conference honors a year ago. Sophomore Nadya Lyekontseva (Kyiv, Ukraine) was a Second Team selection at No. 4 singles, as well as an All-Rookie Team member, after going 9-5 in singles play, including 6-1 in league action. Sophomore Dajana Abadzic (Weinstadt, Germany) received a Third Team accolade at No. 2 singles and was also a First Teamer at No. 2 doubles. Abadzic was 7-8 in singles, including 5-3 in NE10 play, while also going 9-6 at doubles with a 7-1 record in the league. Senior Katelyn Nichols (Manchester, N.H.) went 6-5, including 4-1 in conference action, en route to a Third Team nod at No. 3 doubles.

SNHU will open the season Saturday, Sept. 7 against Saint Michael's at the Ouellette Stadium Tennis Courts.