MELBOURNE, Fla. – Officials from the Sunshine State Conference office released on Friday the results of the 2020 Preseason SSC Women's Tennis Coaches Poll, projecting Nova Southeastern at No. 3 as voted on by the league's coaches.
 
Ranked at No. 5 nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the Sharks garnered 65 points in the poll, entering the fourth year under head coach Doug Neagle. The Sharks are coming off their best season in 12 years, and are reaping the rewards in national acclaim, also rising one spot from their projection a year ago. Marking the best season since 2007, the 2019 Sharks went 22-5 and Neagle was the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year. NSU also finished as SSC Championships runner-up and hosted an NCAA South Region tournament site. The Sharks retain the services of all but one key player from last season, including the 2019 SSC Freshman of the Year, now-sophomore Natalie Espinal, who ranks fourth nationally in singles and joins senior Sarah Wardenburg as part of the nation's No. 1 doubles pair.

"Being the preseason number three in the SSC is a nice acknowledgement because it's voted on by the coaches," Neagle said. "We play in the toughest conference in the country, hands down. We have big goals this year, and if we only focus on our next opponent, work hard and have some fun, our goals can be reached. It's not how you start the season, it's how you finish. We can't get satisfied."
 
Three-time defending national champion Barry received 78 total votes and seven first-place votes to again take the top spot in the poll. Lynn finished second in the poll with 74 points and garnered two first-place votes from conference coaches. Behind NSU, Saint Leo holds fourth place with 59 points and Florida Southern sits in fifth with 49 points. Rounding out the preseason ranking are Tampa (35 points), Rollins (34 points), Embry-Riddle (27 points), Palm Beach Atlantic (20 points) and Eckerd (9 points).
 
Including NSU, the top four teams in the SSC poll are all represented in the ITA Top-10.
  
In addition to Espinal and Wardenburg, senior Daniela Obando ranks 38th nationally.
  
The Sharks kick off their season on Feb. 1 at home against seventh-ranked Flagler at the NSU Tennis Complex.
 

2020 SSC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank	School (FPV)	Total Points
1	Barry (7)	78
2	Lynn (2)	74
3	Nova Southeastern	65
4	Saint Leo	59
5	Florida Southern	49
6	Tampa	35
7	Rollins	34
8	Embry-Riddle	27
9	Palm Beach Atlantic	20
10	Eckerd	9