INDIANAPOLIS – In the Horizon League's annual preseason poll, Oakland was voted fifth out of seven teams.

The seven Horizon League coaches voted. Oakland finished with 21 total points and no first place votes. Ranked first was the UIC Flames, which received five of seven first-place votes. Youngstown State received the other two first-place votes.

Last season, the Golden Grizzlies finished with a 2-18 record, 2-10 in conference play. The roster has three new faces: Tegan Heaton,  Jillian Milano and Liza Mladentseva. Heaton, from Wales, and Mladentseva, from Russia, are both freshmen. Heaton represented Wales in the Home Nations Tournament against England, Ireland and Scotland in 2017 and 2019, helping them secure wins. Mladentseva is a two-time Samara Championship winner, in both 2017 and 2019. 

Milano is a senior transfer from Wright State University. She posted a career 55-39 singles record, a 49-29 doubles record and was a three-time ITA Scholar Athlete selection. 

Oakland returns to action Saturday, Feb. 5 against Western Michigan University. The match starts at 10 a.m. in Kalamazoo, Mich.

2022 Horizon League Women's Tennis Preseason Poll

---

Pl.          Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.            UIC – 47 (5)
2.            Youngstown State – 43 (2)
3.            Cleveland State – 35
4.            Milwaukee – 24
5.            Oakland – 21
6.            Northern Kentucky – 19
7.            IUPUI – 7