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 2021 Little East Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll was released by LEC Associate Commissioner, Daryl Konicki.

The Bears received 42 points in the poll. Rhode Island College is the preseason favorite to capture the Little East title as the defending champion Anchorwomen recorded 64 points including eight first place votes. UMass Boston (52 points) and Plymouth State University (51 points) rounded out the top three teams in the poll with UMass notching one first place vote.

Under the guidance of head coach Dave Purpura (6th Year), the Bridgewater State women's tennis team will return to the courts for the first time since 2019. The Bears finished in fifth place in the 2019 Little East standings with a 5-4 conference mark (7-9 overall).

Returning veteran Vanessa Rosa (Sr., Taunton, Mass.) will help lead Bridgewater State in 2021. Rosa posted a 11-6 (.647) career singles record versus LEC opponents as well as an 11-6 (.647) doubles mark over her first two seasons.

The Bears will open the season on Friday, September 3rd when they travel to Regis College for a four o'clock match with the Pride. Bridgewater State's home opener is slated for Thursday, September 9th (3:30) against Suffolk University at 3:30 from the friendly confines of the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts. The Little East schedule gets underway on Saturday, September 11th as the Bears host Castleton University at one.