University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Vols Ranked 10th in United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
August 06, 2019 | Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Tennessee soccer program has received its highest preseason ranking in program history from the United Soccer Coaches, as the Vols were tabbed 10th in the organization's national poll released Tuesday afternoon.
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The Vols are the highest ranked SEC program entering the 2019 season. Other top-25 teams in the conference include No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 15 South Carolina, No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 24 LSU. Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Auburn also received votes in the poll.
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Defending national champion Florida State claimed the top spot with 33 first-place votes and 870 points. North Carolina, Stanford, UCLA and USC round out the top-five nationally.
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Brian Pensky's Tennessee Vols compiled a 16-3-3 overall record in 2018, setting program marks for the highest winning percentage (.795) and fewest losses (3) in a single season. UT reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the year as a consensus top-10 program (No. 6 TopDrawerSoccer, No. 7 United Coaches, No. 8 NCAA RPI).
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Tennessee returns four All-SEC players from last year's squad, highlighted by back-to-back First Team honorees in midfielder Katie Cousins and defender Maya Neal. The redshirt-senior duo was also recently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy preseason watch list for the NCAA's top individual honor in collegiate soccer.
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Erin Gilroy and MA Vignola are also back on Rocky Top after each earning Second Team All-SEC accolades in 2018.
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Tennessee welcomes a signing class of 15 that was rated No. 6 in the country. The Vols added 13 true freshmen and two all-conference transfers - Michelle Alozie from Yale and Mackenzie George from Cal Poly - that look to make an immediate impact this season.
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UT's schedule begins with an exhibition match Monday, Aug. 12 against Loyola-Maryland. The Vols' regular season opener is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22 as Tennessee hosts Fordham at Regal Soccer Stadium.
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For the most up-to-date information on the Tennessee soccer program, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
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The Vols are the highest ranked SEC program entering the 2019 season. Other top-25 teams in the conference include No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 15 South Carolina, No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 24 LSU. Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Auburn also received votes in the poll.
Â
Defending national champion Florida State claimed the top spot with 33 first-place votes and 870 points. North Carolina, Stanford, UCLA and USC round out the top-five nationally.
Â
Brian Pensky's Tennessee Vols compiled a 16-3-3 overall record in 2018, setting program marks for the highest winning percentage (.795) and fewest losses (3) in a single season. UT reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the year as a consensus top-10 program (No. 6 TopDrawerSoccer, No. 7 United Coaches, No. 8 NCAA RPI).
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Tennessee returns four All-SEC players from last year's squad, highlighted by back-to-back First Team honorees in midfielder Katie Cousins and defender Maya Neal. The redshirt-senior duo was also recently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy preseason watch list for the NCAA's top individual honor in collegiate soccer.
Â
Erin Gilroy and MA Vignola are also back on Rocky Top after each earning Second Team All-SEC accolades in 2018.
Â
Tennessee welcomes a signing class of 15 that was rated No. 6 in the country. The Vols added 13 true freshmen and two all-conference transfers - Michelle Alozie from Yale and Mackenzie George from Cal Poly - that look to make an immediate impact this season.
Â
UT's schedule begins with an exhibition match Monday, Aug. 12 against Loyola-Maryland. The Vols' regular season opener is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22 as Tennessee hosts Fordham at Regal Soccer Stadium.
Â
For the most up-to-date information on the Tennessee soccer program, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
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