College Tennis News - Baylor Bears Picked Second In Big 12 Preseason Poll

IRVING, Texas - Despite a slow start to the 2013 spring season, Baylor's women's tennis team was picked to take second in the Big 12 Conference regular-season race in a vote of the league's head coaches, announced by the Big 12 office on Monday.

While coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team, Baylor earned one first-place vote and a total of 70 points. Texas, last season's Big 12 Championship title winner, garnered the other nine first-place votes and 81 total points to be No. 1 in the poll.

Teams from the state of Texas claimed the top four spots with Texas Tech (65 points) and TCU (54 points) coming in third and fourth, respectively. Baylor is currently 4-7 on the season and ranked No. 19 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. The Lady Bears have lost seven of their last eight matches, but all of the losses have come against top-25 opponents.

Last season, BU was predicted to win the league crown, but the Lady Bears ended up finishing third with a 7-2 record. However, Baylor still made its eighth straight NCAA round of 16.

The Lady Bears will open up Big 12 play on March 15 at Iowa State.

Baylor's next match will be against another top-25 opponent as the Lady Bears travel to College Station, Texas to take on 10th-ranked Texas A&M on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

2013 BIG 12 WOMEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
(First place votes in parentheses; Coaches not allowed to vote for own team)
Rank School Points
1. Texas (9) 81
2. Baylor (1) 70
3. Texas Tech 65
4. TCU 54
5. Oklahoma State 50
6. Oklahoma 41
7. Kansas State 38
8. Kansas 23
9. Iowa State 18
10. West Virginia 10