2008 Patriot League Tennis Webguide 
Jan. 31, 2008
The U.S. Military Academy was chosen to win the Patriot League in a vote by Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors in the Women's Preseason Tennis Poll.
Army led the pack by earning nine of the 12 first-place votes, as well as 49 total points. The Black Knights are the three-time defending Patriot League champions, and will look to extend the streak to four in 2008. Eight-time Patriot League Coach of the Year Paul Peck will have a strong corps of returning student-athletes from last season's team, including 2007 Patriot League Player of the Year Niki Flach. Joining Flach will be 2007 First-Team All-Patriot League selection Brooke Jones, and Second-Team All-Patriot League selections Kristin Beehler and Sarah Giles-Madden. Beehler was named the Patriot League Player of the Month for October 2007.
Finishing second in the preseason poll is Bucknell, who earned two first-place votes, and 40 points overall. The Bison welcome back a strong contingent of underclassmen, including 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Tania Varela. Varela is joined by 2007 All-Patriot League selections Paulina Gamboa and Ashley Globerman, as well as Patriot League Player of the Month for September 2007, Lauren Lucido.
Coming in third, and earning the final first-place vote was Colgate, which garnered 35 total points. The Raiders finished second in the regular season in 2007, and will look to build upon that success in 2008. They will have the experience of a pair of sophomores, as both Elise Derose and Samantha Inacker were named Second-Team All-Patriot League a year ago.
Fourth place went to Lehigh, who earned 27 total points. The Mountain Hawks welcome back sophomore Julie Arthofer, who earned Second-Team All-Patriot League status in 2007.
Lafayette (17 points) and Holy Cross (12) round out the poll.
The 2008 Patriot League Women's Tennis Tournament will take place April 18-20 on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
2008 Patriot League Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Army 49 (9)
2. Bucknell 40 (2)
3. Colgate 35 (1)
4. Lehigh 27
5. Lafayette 17
6. Holy Cross 12
