Mary Washington enters the third decade of championship women’s tennis competition riding a seven-year streak of CAC titles, the last six under head coach Patrick Catullo.  In fact, UMW has won 18 of the 20 previous CAC crowns, including the 1991 squad that went on to win the NCAA championship.

Salisbury, which won two CAC team titles under coach Randy Halpap, is perennially the top contender for UMW’s perch atop the conference standings.  Other programs, including CAC newcomer Frostburg State, are working hard to catch the Eagles and Sea Gulls.

The 2011 spring season opens with Salisbury hosting several matches this weekend, along with Mary Washington hosting Methodist.  The CAC opener is Feb. 20, when Hood (and non-conference foe Hollins) visit UMW.

The teams are vying for the six conference positions in the conference playoffs, which begin on April 17 and culminate with the championship match on April 22.

Here is a look at each team heading into the spring season:

FROSTBURG STATE opens the spring portion of its schedule in late March at CAC opponent Mary Washington. The Bobcats, under the direction of ninth year head coach Stuart Swink, will make their annual spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C. before running through six more CAC matches before the conference tournament in mid-April. Seniors Vicky Stafford and Jill Farester return for their final season with the Bobcats.

Hood sophomore Emily Maerz garnered second team all-CAC accolades for her stellar doubles play last season at the No. 2 spot. She went 4-2 in both singles and doubles against league foes. The young Blazers will have to step up their game to account for the losses of Jillian Elkaim, a former first-team all-conference star, and doubles standout Dani Hunt. But junior Laura Saad was a steady third singles player and classmates Casey Miller and Emily Schrodel have improved each season and should make solid contributions to the lineup.

MARY WASHINGTON will lean on reigning CAC Player of the Year Courtney Goimarac as it looks for its eighth straight CAC championship in April. The Eagles, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships last year, will also welcome back all-conference performers Megan Lawlor, Michelle Meadows, Danielle Velardi, and Casey Malcolm.

SALISBURY, which posted a 13-3 record last season including a 5-1 CAC mark, lost three seniors to graduation but returns several strong performers. The Sea Gulls will rely on sophomores Jillian Poppe and Elaina Iosue, along with senior Angela Tenaglia; Poppe is the reigning CAC Rookie of the Year.

ST. MARY’S fifth-year head coach Derek Sabedra will look to team captain Kathleen Ramsey to inspire an experienced group to a successful 2010-11 campaign.  The Seahawks return five letter winners on the women's side.  Ramsey and Chelsea Bradcovich’s work ethic will carry them and the team to another successful season as Bradcovich and Ramsey both achieved 15-win seasons.

STEVENSON looks to return to the CAC Women's Tennis Championship for the first time since 2008 and will be led by junior Stefanie Eyler who has led the team in wins each of her first two seasons, totaling a 15-7 record. She was 7-3 a year ago, including 5-2 at No. 3 singles. Joining Eyler will be seniors Maura Bernstein and Julie Strong as well as sophomore Wendy Ogbolu. Ogbolu posted a 4-1 record in the fall while Strong was 3-1. Meanwhile, Bernstein returns for her final season after missing last year and finishing second on the team in wins behind Eyler in 2009.

WESLEY returns five of its six starters from a team that qualified for the CAC Playoffs for the first time in 2010.  The Wolverines have to replace All-CAC pick Rebecca Pennington, but returns seniors Marina Palma, who led the team in wins at fourth singles, and Kori Isken, who has played second singles the past two seasons.  Junior Julia Wright and sophomores Stephanie Bentley and Caitlin Grinstead also return after occupying starting roles last year.

YORK is showing signs of beginning to make a turn for the better. The Spartans have several returning players who will be key leaders for this year's squad as they make that turn. Junior Katelyn Acker, who put together a strong two previous years as York's #1, will strive to carry over the momentum she gained from last year's team-best 11-6 record. Fellow returners Samantha Brenner, Stephanie Nelson, and Megan McCullin will also be key cogs to York's success. Additionally, head coach Ryan Weber has brought in a quality freshman class which will look to compete for court time right away. Most notably, rookie Sarah Wargo - a product of nearby York Catholic High School - will have the opportunity to capture the top singles slot and perform well there. If York's returning experience and new talent can mesh well together, the Spartans have great reason to hope for an outstanding 2011 campaign.