INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The 2021 Horizon League Preseason Poll was released Friday afternoon, with Cleveland State tabbed to finish third in the competitive seven-team field. The preseason poll is voted on by the league's head coaches.

This marks the ninth year that the Horizon League has released a preseason tennis poll, with the Vikings selected to finish as a top-three team for the sixth time.

Cleveland State returns five letterwinners from the 2019 team that advanced to the Horizon League Championship match, which marked the fourth time in program history that the Vikings earned a spot in the title match. 

Among the letterwinners are super seniors Kateryna Avram, Blanche Lenoan and Siân Payne, who were granted an extra year of eligibility following the shortened 2020 season.

The Vikings are under the direction of third year head coach Frank Polito for the 2021 campaign, who is in his ninth season overall on the Cleveland State sidelines.

Polito and the Vikings will begin Horizon League play at home this weekend, hosting preseason favorite UIC on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14.

2021 Horizon League Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. UIC, 47 (6)
2. Youngstown State, 42 (1)
3. Cleveland State, 34
4. Northern Kentucky, 27
5. Milwaukee, 24
6. Oakland, 12
7. IUPUI, 10