ATTLEBORO, Mass. - The New England Collegiate Conference released its 2016 women's tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll Friday afternoon, with four-time defending champion Regis (Mass.) picked to defend its title. The Pride earned three out of the possible four first-place votes in the poll.

The fourth first-place vote belonged to 2015 runner-up Lesley University, who finished second in the poll with 12 points. Becker (eight) finished in third place, followed by Bay Path (five).

Dating back to 2012, the Pride have won 38 straight matches against NECC opponents. The team was perfect in NECC doubles play at 24-0 last season, while dropping just two singles matches en route to the conference title.

The team lost only one player to graduation in 2015, and head coach John Ciarleglio brings in a strong recruiting class, highlighted by Ariana McCormack (Worcester, Mass.) and Carly Scanlon (Canton, Mass.). Seniors Jessie Lord (Fall River, Mass.) and Erica Murphy (Portsmouth, N.H.), who served primarily in the team's No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots last season, return to the lineup for the Pride.

Regis opens its 2016 slate next Thursday, Sept. 1 when they host Eastern Nazarene at the Regis Tennis Courts. Doubles play is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m.

2016 NECC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Regis - 15 (3)
2. Lesley - 12 (1)
3. Becker - 8
4. Bay Path - 5

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