SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll slated the Saint Leo women's tennis team fourth, released on Friday. The Lions brought in 59 points as the predicted fourth seed beating out Florida Southern (49), Tampa (35), Rollins (34), Embry-Riddle (27), Palm Beach Atlantic (20), and Eckerd (9). The poll picked Barry as the league's favorite with 78 points followed closely by Lynn with 74 and Nova Southeastern with 65.
 
Saint Leo tallied a 20-7 record last year, 8-2 in the SSC as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) fifth ranked, fourth in the South Region.
 
The Lions advanced to the NCAA postseason as the fourth-seeded in the south region. Saint Leo earned its second-straight season defeating the Florida Southern Moccasins in the NCAA South Region I Semifinals to advance to the regional championship at first-seeded Barry. The Green and Gold's season ended in Miami Shores, Fla. in a 4-0 decision to the Buccaneers.
 
Saint Leo closed the 2019 season ranked fifth in the ITA national rankings registering a 60.87 team average. In addition, the ITA honored the Lions as the South Region's Community Service Team. The ITA also awarded Marta Vicens Miquel with an individual honor as the 2019 South Region Player to Watch in organizations Year-End Awards.
 
Saint Leo continued to bring in the accolades in the post-season; at the helm of every great program is head coach worthy of receiving recognition. Head Coach Chad Berryhill was given the elite title of United States Profession Tennis Association (USPTA) Coach of the Year. Berryhill recorded his 300^th career win on Thursday, March 21 on his way to a season-opening 316-148 career record.
 
Berryhill returns All-SSC members Vicens Miquel (singles first team), Kristyna Jurkova (doubles first team and singles second team), and Nina Furmaniak (singles second team) along with another pair of veterans in the form of Anna Marija Bukina and Nastasia Jedrychowski. Joining the experienced five players are five newcomers.
 
In January, the ITA ranked the 2020 Lions sixth in the first national poll of the year. The No. 6 Saint Leo Lions are set for the schedule season-opener on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. hosting the Flagler Saints.
 
For more information on the Saint Leo tennis programs, visit SaintLeoLions.com.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.