Men's Golf | 1/27/2010 1:23:49 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced the men's golf, women's lacrosse, softball, and men's and women's tennis preseason polls for the 2010 season.

Methodist University, under the direction of 23rd-year Head Coach Steve Conley, was picked to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2010 golf title in the preseason coaches' poll. Last spring, the Monarchs captured their seventh consecutive USA South Championship, their 27th title in program history. Methodist received six of seven first-place votes (36 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting. The Monarchs, currently ranked number one in Division III will kick off the spring season at the Callaway Invitational Mar. 1-2. Men's Golf Poll

The Methodist lacrosse team has been picked to finish third in the preseason poll behind Christopher Newport University.  Last spring, the Captains captured both the USA South Regular Season and Tournament titles for the third consecutive season. Greensboro College finished second in the balloting with Methodist and Shenandoah University rounding out the top-half of the poll. The 2010 season marks the addition of three new women's lacrosse-playing teams into the league. Agnes Scott College and LaGrange College are first-year programs while N.C. Wesleyan College resumes its program after a two-year hiatus. Methodist head coach Wylie Crisanti and his team will begin the 2010 season at the Savannah College of Art and Design Feb. 20. Lacrosse Poll

Monarchs' softball was picked fourth in the poll for the 2010 season. Christopher Newport University was picked to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2010 softball title. The Captains captured both the USA South Regular Season and Tournament championships last spring. Peace College finished second in the balloting ahead of third place Shenandoah University. Methodist will kick off the 2010 season under the direction of head coach Ron Simpson Feb. 20 at Guilford College. Softball Poll

Head coach David Kurvink and the men's tennis team were selected fourth in the USA South poll. N.C. Wesleyan College, under third-year Head Coach Dominic Modise, was picked to win the conference. The Bishops captured both the USA South Regular Season and Tournament crowns last spring.Christopher Newport University earned second in the poll with Averett University placing third. The Monarchs will open up the spring season at Barton College Feb. 23. Men's Tennis Poll

Methodist University, under the direction of fifth-year Head Coach Francie Barragan, was picked to capture the 2010 USA South Athletic Conference women's tennis title in the preseason coaches' poll. Last spring, the Monarchs captured their second consecutive USA South Regular Season title.
Methodist received eight of ten first-place votes and 80 total points as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting. Meredith College, the defending USA South Tournament Champions, finished second in the balloting with the remaining two first-place votes and 74 total points while Christopher Newport University rounded out the top-three with 56 points. Methodist begins their season against Huntingdon in Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 21. Women's Tennis Poll

For more information on the USA South visit www.usasouth.net