BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team has been picked to finish in fourth place in the Little East Conference (LEC) standings as the 2023 Little East Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll was released by LEC Associate Commissioner, Daryl Konicki.

The Bears received 48 points in the poll. UMass Boston is the preseason favorite to capture the Little East title as the defending champion Beacons recorded 59 points including six first-place votes. UMass Dartmouth picked up the other three first place votes as the Corsairs finished second in the poll with 54 points. Rhode Island College rounded out the top three teams with 49 points.

Under the guidance of head coach Dave Purpura (8th Year), the Bridgewater State women's tennis team opened preseason camp on Friday, August 18th. The Bears finished in second place in the 2022 Little East standings with a 6-2 conference mark (9-5 overall).

Returning All-Little East Conference selection Madeline Von Ruden (Jr., Ashley Falls, Mass.) will help lead Bridgewater State in 2023. Von Ruden has earned All-Little East honors in each of her first two seasons.

Also returning to the roster from a year ago are Allison Carter (Sr., Raynham, Mass.), Hannah Higgins (So., Rockland, Mass.), Erin Lally (Sr., Danvers, Mass.), Meghan Lotti (Jr., Stoneham, Mass.), Yasmine Queen (So., Waltham, Mass.) and Mackenzie Silveira (Sr., Middletown, R.I.). Carter, Lally and Von Ruden will serve as captains this season.

The Bears will open the season on Friday, September 1st when they travel to Regis College to take on the Pride at noon. The 2023 home opener versus Eastern Nazarene College is slated for Tuesday, September 5th at 3:30. The Little East schedule gets underway on Saturday, September 9th as the Bears entertain Rhode Island College at noon.