NEW HAVEN, Conn. (August 13, 2026) – Queens College, a new associate member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for women’s tennis, has been selected first in that sport’s 2026 CACC Preseason Coaches Poll. The results of the balloting were announced today by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara.
Queens (17-5 in 2025-26) won the 2025-26 regular-season and tournament championship in the East Coast Conference. The Knights, who were ranked as high as No. 18 nationally in NCAA Division II, went on to reach the NCAA D-II national tournament. Queens received six first-place votes and 36 total points in the poll.
Thomas Jefferson University, which won last year’s CACC regular-season championship, finished second in the balloting with 29 points. After capturing its fifth consecutive CACC tournament title, Wilmington gained the other first-place vote and was chosen for third place with 27 points.
The University of the District of Columbia was picked to finish fourth with 21 points, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas College in fifth with 16 points. UDC and STAC are joining Queens as new CACC associate members this season. Chestnut Hill College (6th, 12 points) and Post University (7th, 5) complete the poll.
The regular season begins on September 5 when Post travels to East Stroudsburg University. Conference play is slated to start on Sept. 9. At the end of the fall season, the top four teams in the standings will qualify for the CACC Championship tournament, to be hosted by Wilmington from Oct. 17-18 at Delcastle Tennis Center in Wilmington, Del. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2027 NCAA East Region Championship in May.
2026 CACC WOMEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
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1.
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Queens College (6)
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36 pts.
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2.
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Thomas Jefferson University
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29
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3.
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Wilmington University (1)
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27
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4.
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University of the District of Columbia
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21
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5.
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St. Thomas Aquinas College
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16
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6.
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Chestnut Hill College
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12
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7.
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Post University
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6
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Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 21 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – seven for men, 10 for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.