Fayetteville, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference has released its 2016 spring preseason polls for baseball, softball, tennis, and golf. NCWC's men's and women's tennis teams led the way with 1st- and 2nd-place billings, respectively.

In men's tennis, 1st-year head coach Dustin Hale's squad was picked to defend last season's title with ten 1st-place votes and the maximum total of 100 points available.  Ranked 22nd in the latest national poll, the Bishops are looking to extend their streak of seven consecutive league crowns, and Hale hopes to do so with eight returning letterwinners this spring, led by 2015 USA South Rookie of the Year Sebastian Sikh. The Bishops will enter the season having won 66 straight matches versus conference oppenents since 2009.

On the women's side, Hale's team earned eight 1st-place votes and 134 total points for a 2nd-place finish behind preseason favorite Methodist University. The Monarchs received the remaining five 1st-place votes to edge out NCWC with 135 points in the poll. Wesleyan ran the table in conference play last season (12-0) en route to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. Hale returns six letterwinners from that squad, including 2015 USA South Tournament Most Valuable Player Valeria Berber.

Softball and golf were tabbed 8th in their respective polls, and baseball was picked 9th overall.

Season-opening matches are not far away as baseball opens its season on Saturday, February 6th at home versus Lynchburg College. Tennis follows suit the next day at Christopher Newport, while softball takes the field on February 23rd at Virginia Wesleyan. Golf will later tee off at the Lynchburg Invitational on March 21st.

To view the complete USA South coaches poll in each sport, please visit www.usasouth.net.