PAC Release

TRAFFORD, Pa. -- The two-time defending Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) champions were voted atop the conference once again.

Allegheny College women's tennis finished first in the 2026 PAC preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon. The Gators have been picked No. 1 in the PAC in each of the last five years since joining the league and have won three of the last four championships.

In this year's poll, the Gators earned a maximum of nine first-place votes with a total of 73 points. Second-place Grove City College received the remaining first-place vote and trailed Allegheny by eight points with 65. Franciscan University (52) and Washington & Jefferson College were separated by just three points in third and fourth, respectively.

Over the past four years, the Gators are 32-0 against PAC competition during the regular season and will look to extend that undefeated streak this fall. During the fall of 2025, only one regular-season match ended in a score other than 7-0, while the women's tennis team outscored its PAC tournament opponents 8-1. That included a 4-1 victory over Grove City in the championship match at Robertson Athletic Complex.

Leading the charge in 2026-27 will be Allegheny's four PAC Players to Watch: sophomores Gabrielle Bassette (Miami, Fla./Miami Country Day School ) and Giada Palmieri (Berlin, Germany/Paulsen Gymnasium) and first-years Chanel Brun (Aix-en-Provence, France/Fox Chapel (Pa.)) and Claire Terefe (Dallas, Texas/Texas Online Preparatory School). Bassette returns as the reigning PAC Player and Newcomer of the Year and a two-time All-PAC First-Team selection. Palmieri was recognized on the All-PAC Second Team for singles and as an All-PAC Honorable Mention for doubles in her debut season.

The Gators will open their fall schedule with a two-day tournament, the Allegheny Invitational, on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6.