ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's tennis has been selected fifth in the 2026 SCIAC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and announced by the conference on Wednesday morning.

The Regals totaled 32 points in the poll following a breakthrough 2025 season that saw the program return to the SCIAC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2016. Cal Lutheran advanced with a win over Caltech before falling in the semifinals, marking a significant step forward and building momentum entering the spring.

Cal Lu returns a strong core led by Second Team All-SCIAC selections Anya Rajan and Kylee Limpias. Evelyn Oltmans is also back after a standout fall, reaching the quarterfinals of the ITA West Regionals.

At the top of the poll, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer were deadlocked with 60 points apiece, each receiving four first-place votes. Redlands followed in third with 42 points, while Caltech slotted in fourth with 38 points. Occidental (26), Chapman (22), and Whittier (8) rounded out the poll.

Cal Lutheran opens the spring schedule today with a nonconference match at Division II opponent Westmont. The Regals will begin SCIAC play in late March, traveling to CMS and Chapman as they look to build on last season's postseason run.