Jayhawk Netters Tabbed Fifth in Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll

IRVING, Texas – Kansas women’s tennis had a very productive fall season and has been a team to be reckoned with during non-conference play, which resulted in the Big 12 Conference coaches tabbing the Jayhawks fifth in the conference preseason poll.
 
Kansas came in tied for fifth place with 52 votes, along with TCU. The Jayhawks and Horned Frogs were just two points out of third place in the poll, as Baylor and Texas each collected 54 points. The fifth place standing marks the Jayhawks’ highest ranking in the Big 12 preseason poll in more than five years.
 
“I think the recognition is a nice sign that our conference perceives our program is headed in the right direction,” said Kansas head coach Todd Chapman. “At the end of the day a preseason poll is just perception though. Our goal is to be in the conversation at the end of the season, and we will continue working hard every day to make the perception a reality.”
 
For the first time in conference history, the Texas Tech was selected as the Big 12 tennis preseason favorite. TTU collected six of the 10 coaches’ votes en route to the top spot in the poll.
 
Oklahoma State slotted in at second, garnering 76 total points and four first-place votes. Oklahoma, Kansas State and West Virginia roll in at seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, as Iowa State closes out the rankings at tenth.
 
Conference coaches place their votes prior to the start of league play to determine their preseason favorite, but cannot vote for their own team in the poll.
 
Kansas is one of three Big 12 Conference teams ranked in the latest top-25 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings. Texas Tech comes in at No. 7, Oklahoma State is No. 13 and the Jayhawks round out the group at No. 24.
 
Conference competition is slated to open on Wednesday, when Baylor visits Lawrence to dual with the Jayhawks. Kansas and Baylor will have first serve at 2:30 p.m., at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. The full conference slate is scheduled to begin Friday, March 18. 

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