WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – Following the program's first-ever ECC Championship trophy last fall, St. Thomas Aquinas has been predicted to defend its title as voted on by the league's six head coaches and announced on Friday morning. Additionally, Queens senior Maja Makal (Bialystok, Poland) and St. Thomas Aquinas senior Ebba Rosberg (Stockholm, Sweden) have been selected the ECC Preseason Co-Players of the Year.
Defending champion St. Thomas Aquinas received five of six first-place votes to top the poll with 35 points. The Spartans return seven players from their historic 2022 squad that went 18-4 overall and an undefeated 5-0 in conference action, won the ECC regular-season and tournament titles, earned the program's first-ever East Regional victory, and made their inaugural appearance in the NCAA Championship rounds. Rosberg, Elita Silins, and Samantha Villegas Robles return as All-Conference selections from a year ago.
The reigning ECC Player of the Year, Rosberg was unbeatable in singles play during dual matches last fall, going 8-0 overall and 5-0 in ECC play. All eight dual match wins came at the No. 1 position. Rosberg also excelled in doubles action, finishing with a 6-1 record at the No. 1 position.
Queens was the poll's runner-up with one first-place vote and 31 points. The Knights have a long history of success, with a streak of 11 straight trips to the final of the ECC Championship. The Knights will once again be led by two-time ECC Preseason Player of the Year Maja Makal and All-Conference honoree Caroline Hany-Fawzy.
A four-time All-Conference selection, Makal compiled a regular-season record of 3-2 at No. 1 singles and an overall record of 6-3 in singles play last year. In doubles play, Makal went 8-1 overall as she went 5-0 in dual matches, including an undefeated record in conference play.
District of Columbia comes in at No. 3 in the poll, accumulating 24 points. UDC has made the finals of the ECC Championship in three of the last four seasons and returns a pair of All-Conference selections in reigning ECC Rookie of the Year Célia Bastin and Laura Marie.
Daemen edged out Molloy for fourth place in the poll.
2023 ECC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
| School | Pts. | 2022 Record |
| 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (5) | 35 | 18-4 (5-0 ECC) |
| 2. Queens (1) | 31 | 11-8 (3-2 ECC) |
| 3. District of Columbia | 24 | 13-7 (4-1 ECC) |
| 4. Daemen | 17 | 6-12 (2-3 ECC) |
| 5. Molloy | 12 | 1-8 (1-4 ECC) |
| 6. D'Youville | 7 | 1-10 (0-5 ECC) |
( ) - first place votes
Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Maja Makal, Sr., Queens and Ebba Rosberg, Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas
