January 31, 2007
USA South announces preseason polls
Golf, lacrosse, softball, and tennis released today

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  The USA South Conference office released the preseason polls today for the remaining spring sports.  Baseball was released earlier this month.  The polls are based on votes from each conference member's head coach without voting for themselves.

The Methodist men's golf team has been picked to defend their 2006 conference title this season.  The Monarchs received all six first place votes from their opponents.  Last year, Methodist finished third in the NCAA Division III National Championship and returns first team All-Conference and All-American Nick Bova.  The team still ranks first in the GCAA poll following the fall season.

The Methodist softball team has also been picked as the USA South favorite receiving 46 of the votes.  The Monarchs received five first place votes and ranked ahead of Greensboro's 39 votes finishing second in the voting.  In 2006, the softball team won both the regular season and conference tournament championships where they advanced to the NCAA regional tournament.  They finished the season 39-8 and ranked 11th in the NFCA postseason poll.  The team returns 14 letterwinners including six field starters and two pitchers while adding 12 newcomers.

The Monarchs' men's and women's tennis teams have both been picked to finish second in the conference behind Christopher Newport University.  The women's team has won six consecutive regular season championships and received 32 votes in the poll including two first place ballots.  The women return five of their six starters last season including first team All-Conference members Jenny Smith and Tiffany Tucker.  The men's team finished second in the balloting with 44 points with two first place votes.  With first year head coach Keith Criscoe at the helm, the Monarchs return four starters with a full roster anxious to regain the Conference title.

The Methodist lacrosse team has been picked third in the preseason poll with 26 votes behind last season's tournament champions Christopher Newport, and regular season champions Greensboro College.  In 2006, the women won a record number of games finishing 11-4.  The team returns five starters including first team All-Conference member Lauren McGonagle and second team member Bridget Holcomb along with a host of newcomers.

To read more about the preseason polls and to see the entire voting results visit: http://www.usasouth.net/