In the first annual Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches poll released Friday, the Illinois State womens tennis team was picked to finish first in the Valley along with Southwest Missouri State.
Illinois State and Southwest Missouri State both received five first-place votes and tied with 77 points. Drake finish third in the voting with 61 points, while Indiana State was fourth with 60 points.
The Redbirds have five returning varsity letterwinners, four that saw extensive action the year before. The team is led by Liina Suurvarik who was named the Valley Player of the Week over the last two weeks, and also return Valley Freshman of the Year in Laura Gravino.
Head coach Chris Hoover is primed and ready to make a run at the regular season title this spring.
It is nice that we are being thought of to finish first in the conference, Hoover said. This is an early poll and we are going to have to go out and compete with every team in this conference.
The Redbirds continue regular season play when they travel to Milwaukee to take on Marquette February 15, at 10:30 a.m.
-- ## --
