FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina – The Piedmont College men's and women's tennis teams have both been voted by conference coaches to finish fifth in the 2013 USA South Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll.  On the men's side, N.C. Wesleyan College was picked to win as the Bishops captured both the USA South Regular Season and Tournament crowns last spring for the fourth consecutive season.  On the women's side, Methodist University was picked to claim the title after winning the USA South Tournament title for the third consecutive season.

The 2013 season marks the first in the USA South for new Conference members LaGrange College, Maryville College and Piedmont College. Each institution is a former member of the Great South Athletic Conference.

In the men's voting N.C. Wesleyan received eight of nine first-place votes (64 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.  Christopher Newport University earned second in the poll with 53 points. Methodist University placed third in the poll with 47 points while Averett University followed in fourth with 46 points and the final first place vote. Newcomers Piedmont, LaGrange and Maryville followed in fifth, sixth and seventh with 38, 24 and 19 points, respectfully.

In the women's voting Methodist received eight of 12 first-place votes and 118 total points as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.  Meredith finished second in the balloting with 113 points and three first-place votes while Christopher Newport University followed in third with 97 points and the final first-place vote. N.C. Wesleyan secured fourth place with 93 points while Piedmont rounded out the top-half of the poll in fifth with 69 points.

Entering his 10^th season at the helm of both programs, head coach Shane Wood will look to lean on experience from both rosters.  On the men's side, the Lions return six players that saw action in singles play last season while the women's squad brings back five of last season's top-six singles players.  The men's team is on the heels of a 12-6 campaign in 2012 while the women posted a respectable 10-9 ledger.

Both teams will open the 2013 season on February 22 when they travel to Sewanee, TN to take on Sewanee: University of the South.

The 2013 USA South Tennis Tournament will be played April 12-14 on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan as a part of the Spring Sports festival in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

2013 USA South Men's Tennis Preseason Poll

2013 USA Souh Women's Tennis Preseason Poll