LAKELAND, Fla. — The Florida Southern College women's tennis team has been ranked No. 11 in the 2026 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) preseason DII national poll, marking another milestone for the program after closing the 2025 spring season at No. 12 in the final national rankings.
"This early season ranking is a testament to the work our players put in all last year and their dedication to excellence over the summer and through the fall! It shines a light on where our program is at and where we want to be on the national level," states assistant coach
Paul Walker '86!
The Moccasins' rise in the preseason rankings reflects the momentum built throughout last spring, when Florida Southern consistently proved itself among the nation's elite. The No. 11 ranking places FSC squarely in the top tier of NCAA Division II programs and signals high expectations heading into the new campaign.
Florida Southern returns a strong core of student-athletes who helped fuel last season's success, including
Kennedi Brown, who went 11-11 in the top doubles spot with alumni
Olivia Bryant, while
Emily Jennewein and
Ronja Scheuermann in number two doubles finished the year 14-6. The third doubles pair returned for another season as
Jolie Miller and
Annika Berrendorf went 14-5.
That foundation, along with the program's continued commitment to excellence on and off the court, has positioned the Mocs to be a factor on the national stage once again in 2026. In singles, the Mocs were led by veteran Bryant, but Jennewein, Scheuermann, and Berrendorf will continue their success on the court, along with new faces to the Mocs lineup.
The preseason recognition continues a trend of national respect for Florida Southern women's tennis, as the Moccasins have now finished in or near the top 12 in back-to-back seasons. With a target already on their backs, FSC will look to turn that respect into results when the spring slate begins.
Florida Southern opens the 2026 season later this spring, with the annual FSC Invite, which will be held at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center. The Mocs are aiming to build on last year's achievements and push even higher in the national rankings as the postseason approaches.
