General Release - 2003-04 Spring ODAC Polls - Guilford College
GUILFORD RANKED IN ODAC SPRING POLLS
Greensboro, NC (03/02/04) -- Guilford's golf team earned the top spot in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's (ODAC) preseason coaches' poll, which was one of nine spring rankings announced Tuesday by the league office. Selections were made by each sport's head coaches.
The Quakers' were picked third in the nine-team baseball poll and sixth in the nine-team softball poll. Guilford was picked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the men's and women's lacrosse polls. The Quakers' women's tennis team placed 10th among 12 squads.
Guilford's golf team is ranked second in the most recent Precept NCAA Division III Coaches' Poll. Coach Jack Jensen's Quakers have won an unprecedented four straight ODAC titles and finished among the top-11 teams at the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in three of the past four years. Sophomores Brant Stovall (Lawsonville, NC/North Stokes) and Chris Lowman (Siler City, NC/Jordan-Matthews) received All-ODAC honors last season.
Coach Gene Baker's baseball team returns 21 letter winners from last season's 27-14 club that reached the six-team ODAC Tournament for the third time in four years. The Quakers are 4-4 this year and open conference play March 13 at preseason league favorite Virginia Wesleyan.
The Quakers' softball team features 11 letter winners back from the 2003 club that finished 12-19 (6-9 ODAC) in its first season since 1991. Guilford earned the sixth and final spot in last year's ODAC Tournament. First-year head coach Ty Cook has her club off to a 2-2 start headed into the beginning of its ODAC campaign Friday (3/5) afternoon against visiting Bridgewater.
Guilford's men's lacrosse team finished last in the preseason balloting after a 3-11 season (0-6 ODAC) in 2003. The Quakers suffered their 10th straight winless conference season last year and bid for their first league win since 1993 when they host Randolph-Macon March 27. The Yellow Jackets were picked sixth in the league, which features four of Division III's top-20 teams according to the March 1 Geico/STX Coaches' Poll. Guilford is 1-1 after two 2004 games under first-year head coach John Burke '88. Guilford returns 16 letter winners from last year's squad.
Coach Tara Caminiti-Raggett enters her fourth season as Guilford's women's lacrosse coach with eight letter winners returning from last year's 5-12 club (3-5 ODAC). The club's five wins marked its most since 1999. Second Team All-ODAC picks Sarah Routhier (North Yarmouth, ME/Greely) and Jennifer Cahill (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) lead the club into Wednesday's (3/3) season-opener at league-rival Lynchburg.
The Quakers' women's tennis team lost number-one singles and doubles player Kelly Burger from last year's 7-10 club (2-7 ODAC). Coach Jenn Wolos '96 starts her third year on her alma mater's sidelines with four letter winners back from her 2003 club that placed 11th among 12 teams at the 2003 ODAC Championships. Guilford opens its spring season Wednesday (3/3) against visiting Greensboro at 3:30 pm and travels to Bridgewater March 14 for its league opener.