WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley was voted 6^th by the NE10's head coaches in the women's tennis preseason poll, the conference revealed Thursday.

The Falcons graduated just two seniors from last season's squad that won a program record 15 wins, and advanced to the NE10 Semifinals with a 5-3 victory over Merrimack in the opening round.

Bentley garnered 93 points in the poll, just a shade behind Merrimack's 95 points for 5^th place. Last season's two NE10 finalists, Stonehill and Adelphi, topped the poll. The Skyhawks came in first with 138 points and seven first-place votes, while the defending champs Adelphi came in with 123 points and three first-place votes. Southern New Hampshire picked up 121 points and three first-place votes to register in 3^rd, while Assumption was 4^th with 109 points.

The top six teams in the standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the NE10 Championship.

Two of Bentley's three All-Conference selections from last season's record setting squad return in Katie Brandow (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) and Katie Tynan (West Barnstable, Mass./Barnstable), plus double-digit singles winner Hannah Fabianski (Pawcatuck, Conn./Stonington) to highlight head coach Rick Edelmann's returnees. 

Bentley will get its season started with a pair of non-conference matches against Daemen (Sept. 4) and Roger Williams (Sept. 5), before they open NE10 play at Saint Rose on Sept. 8

2017-18 NE10 Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Stonehill - 138 (7)

2. Adelphi - 123 (3)

3. SNHU - 121 (3)

4. Assumption - 109

5. Merrimack - 95

6. Bentley - 93

7. Le Moyne - 86

8. Saint Anselm - 65

9. New Haven - 52

10. Saint Michael's - 50

11. Franklin Pierce - 42

12. AIC - 22

13. Saint Rose - 18