INDIANAPOLIS- The University of Findlay Oilers find themselves at the top of the 2026 women’s tennis coaches preseason poll, released Wednesday afternoon. The Oilers received six first-place votes for a total of 88 points in the preseason poll.
 
2025 Coach of the Year Jeff Westmeyer returns the league’s top freshman in Polina Zaytseva. Zaytseva finished her freshman campaign ranked No. 23 in the country in doubles with a 17-8 record. She went 22-7 at singles and helped the Oilers to the No. 1 overall seed in the G-MAC Championship and regular season title with a 9-0 record. Zaytseva is joined by teammate Ana Kovacevic as first-team all-conference returners. Kovacevic went 20-7 in singles and recorded a 16-6 doubles record. During her junior season, she was selected as one of only 16 players in the country to compete in the ITA Cup. The Oilers will look to win the program’s second G-MAC title in 2026.
 
The reigning G-MAC champs in Tiffin were slotted second with four first-place votes and 85 points. Jem Choi was voted Player of the Year last season for a stellar sophomore campaign. Choi went 19-5 in singles and 16-4 in doubles as was named an ITA All-American in doubles. Choi and the Dragons captured their third Great Midwest title last season and earned an automatic-qualifying bid to the regional.
 
Hillsdale and Northwood were voted in a tie for third followed by Walsh and Ashland.
 
Ane Dannhauser was a first-team all-conference selection for the Chargers after registering a 21-9 singles record and 22-9 in doubles. Brianna Rees is another top returner for the Chargers after posting a 14-14 singles record during her freshman season.
 
For Northwood, Danijela Danilovic is a top returner for the Timberwolves after an 18-3 singles record in 2025. Danilovic and the Timberwolves were 6-3 in the conference last season.
 
Thomas More and Cedarville were voted 7^th and 8^th, followed by Kentucky Wesleyan and Ursuline, respectively.
 
Women’s tennis programs opened the 2026 season last weekend, recording a 6-3 record against non-conference opponents.