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In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head women's tennis coaches, SIUE has been picked as the preseason favorite for the 2025 season.

The Cougars earned six of the seven first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves) to receive 36 total points. The defending tournament champions look to repeat behind two-time All-OVC selections Amelia Gorman and Margaux Guibal Britt.

Southeast Missouri, looking for its third consecutive regular season title, was picked second with 28 points. Western Illinois picked up the final first-place vote for third, receiving 26 points, while Southern Indiana garnered 22 points for fourth. Lindenwood was tabbed fifth with 13 points and is followed by Eastern Illinois (12 points) and Tennessee State (10).

Bryant joins the OVC but will not play a regular season conference schedule in 2025. The Bulldogs will compete at the conference tournament as part of the eight-team field.

The season will conclude with the 2025 OVC Tennis Championships (April 17-19) at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Mo.

SIUE opens play Saturday against Illinois Springfield in a 2:30 p.m. dual at the Edwardsville Y Meyer Center.

2025 OVC Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
1. SIUE (6) - 36
2. Southeast Missouri - 28
3. Western Illinois (1) - 26
4. Southern Indiana - 22
5. Lindenwood - 13
6. Eastern Illinois - 12
7. Tennessee State – 10
*Bryant is a member of the OVC and will compete at the conference championships but will not play a conference schedule in 2025.

2025 OVC Players to Watch
Each team selected two "Players to Watch". All returning 2023-24 All-Conference selections made the list. Southern Indiana has three All-OVC returners.

Bryant
Singles
Natalia Vela, Jr., Guatemala
Doubles
Natalia Vela, Jr., Guatemala
Caitlyn Munson, Sr., Dacula, Ga.

Eastern Illinois
Singles
Charleigh Fay, So., Sydney, Australia
Doubles
*Aleyla Wooten, Jr., Lakeland, Tenn.
Michelle Kostadinova, So., Willow Springs, Ill.

Lindenwood
Singles
Fabiana Labrador, So., Caracas, Venezuela
Doubles
Daniela Rosenberger, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.
Michelle Trochez, Jr., Houston, Texas

Southeast Missouri
Singles
Lera Valeera, Gr., Ekaterinburg, Russia
Doubles
Lera Valeera, Gr., Ekaterinburg, Russia
Kristina Kozakova, Gr., Senica, Slovakia

SIUE
Singles
*Amelia Gorman, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Doubles
*Amelia Gorman, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Cydney Rogers, Jr., Jonesboro, Ark.

Southern Indiana
Singles
*Antonia Ferrarini, So., Caxias do Sul, Brazil
Doubles
Sofia Davidoff, So., Lagny-sur-Marne, France
*Anais Negrail, So., Maisons-Alfort, France

Tennessee State
Singles
*Warona Mdulwa, Jr., Teia, Spain
Doubles
Francisca Gomez-Weiss, So., Argentina
Jovana Nikolic, Jr., Serbia

Western Illinois
Singles
Richardlyne Francois, Fr., Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Doubles
Nour Gueblaoui, Jr., Monastir, Tunisia
Chloe Routier, Fr., Ecole secondaire De Mortagne

* - 2024 All-OVC Selections

Returning 2024 All-OVC Selections
Singles
Aleyla Wooten, Eastern Illinois
Amelia Gorman, SIUE
Margaux Guibal Britt, SIUE
Antonia Ferrarini, Southern Indiana
Anais Negrail, Southern Indiana
Warona Mdlulwa, Tennessee State

Doubles
Margaux Guibal Britt & Amelia Gorman, SIUE

Photo: Margaux Guibal Britt