BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The University of Charleston edged out Glenville State to take the top spot in the 2023 Mountain East Conference Women’s Golf Preseason Poll.

UC received five of the nine first-place votes and earned 61 points during preseason voting. The Golden Eagles finished second at the MEC Women’s Golf Championship a season ago, six shots behind Glenville State at the top of the team leaderboard. Iciar Canalejo and Beatrice Dietz return to the course this season to lead UC after finishing first and second, respectively, at the 2022 MEC Golf Championship last October. Canalejo was the 2022-23 MEC Women’s Golf Athlete of the Year.

Glenville State finished just two points (59) behind Charleston and received the final four first-place votes during preseason voting. The Pioneers, the 2022 MEC Women’s Golf Champions, also bring back an experienced lineup in 2023, returning four of the five players that competed at the MEC Championship and Atlantic Regional Tournament (Hailey Hendershott, Kendall Wall, Elizabeth Bickar, Holly Elliott).

Wheeling (41) checked in at No. 3 in the preseason ranking, followed by Fairmont State (38) and Davis & Elkins (35) to complete the top five. West Liberty (29), Notre Dame (27), Concord (18) and West Virginia Wesleyan (16) rounded out the poll.

The MEC women’s golf season begins on Sunday, Sept. 3 with Notre Dame, Wheeling, Glenville State and Davis & Elkins in action. The 2023 MEC Women’s Golf Championship is set for Oct. 2-4 at Avalon Lakes in Warren, Ohio.