The College of New Jersey has been selected as the favorite to win the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s six head coaches. The 2004 NJAC Champion Lions will be seeking their 22nd straight conference crown since the inception of women's tennis as a league sport in 1983. With a perfect 6-0 conference record in 2004, TCNJ extended its NJAC winning streak to 106 consecutive league matches, a streak that spans the entire history of conference play.  

The Lions received all six of the first place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Scott Dicheck, TCNJ has posted an overall record of 59-18.    

TCNJ returns four all-conference players including the 2004 NJAC Player and Rookie of the Year in sophomore Christina Contrafatto. In addition, the Lions return a trio of all-conference performers in junior Kristen Turturiello, junior Ayumi Yamazaki and senior Jackie Gavornik.   

Richard Stockton University, the NJAC runner-up in both 2003 and 2004, was selected to place second. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Phil Birnbaum, the Ospreys have posted an overall record of 32-9, including a mark of 11-1 in 2004. Stockton returns a two-time all-conference performer in junior Kristin Tukel.   

Ramapo College, which finished the 2004 season with a 12-4 overall record, was tapped to place third. Under the guidance of third-year head coach Roy Inniss, the Roadrunners have posted an overall record of 26-8. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, William Paterson University, was tapped to place fourth. The Pioneers, who returned to NJAC play in 2004, will be led by first-year head coach Sandy Ross.   

Rutgers University-Newark, under the direction of third-year head coach Kevin Morris, was selected to place fifth. Kean University, under the leadership of second-year head coach Evelyn Alfaro, was tapped to place sixth.   

NJAC league play will get underway on Saturday, September 10 when Rutgers-Newark hosts Richard Stockton in the first conference match of the year.