WALTHAM, Mass. – The Northeast-10 released its women's tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday, and the Bentley Falcons were voted 5^th by the conference's 13 head coaches. The team received 96 points and one first-place vote in the poll.

Bentley was one of just four teams to receive a first-place vote. The other teams were the top-three voted teams in the poll, with top pick Adelphi receiving six, and tied second picks Stonehill garnering four and Southern New Hampshire two.

4^th year head coach Rick Edelman welcomes back nine players from last season's squad that went 6-6 in matches played in the highly competitive Northeast-10. Overall the team went 11-12, with two Division I teams on the schedule.

Three seniors are back to lead the squad in Susan Stowe (Hebron, Conn./RHAM), Rachel Petrini (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) and Kayla Anghinetti (Seekonk, Mass./Bishop Feehan). Stowe was named first team All-Conference last season. While Stowe and Petrini are two of five returnees who earned ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition for having a grade point average of 3.50 or higher.

The Falcons get their season started on Friday, September 9 at rival Stonehill for a 6:00 pm match. The team hosts Franklin Pierce two days later for its home-opener.

2016 Northeast-10 Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Adelphi – 136 (6)

T-2. Stonehill – 127 (4)

T-2. Southern New Hampshire – 127 (2)

4. Merrimack – 103

5. Bentley – 96 (1)

6. Le Moyne – 95

7. Assumption – 90

8. Saint Anselm – 61

9. Saint Michael's – 55

10. New Haven – 46

11. Saint Rose – 36

12. Franklin Pierce – 26

13. AIC – 16