via the Ave Maria web site   KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Ave Maria women’s lacrosse team, who opens their season on Saturday with an exhibition at Tampa, begins the 2018 campaign ranked sixth in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Top 10 Poll. The Lady Gyrenes received 64 total points, placing them just ahead of seventh ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) who received 63 points. The poll is voted on by eight raters, two per conference/group, who rank submit a top 15 ballot. Ave Maria is coming off a 2017 season that saw them finish 7-7 overall, enough to earn a bid to their first NAIA National Invitational. The Blue and Green are set to take on five teams that are currently in the top 10 and three others who are receiving votes in the poll. AMU will host top-ranked SCAD-Savannah on April 15. The Lady Gyrenes also take on No. 2 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) in Savannah on March 7 and third-ranked Indiana Tech on March 12 at home. 2018 NAIA Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Preseason Top 10 Poll (January 30, 2018) 1. SCAD Savannah (Ga.) (8) 2. Lawrence Tech 3. Indiana Tech 4. Georgetown (Ky.) 5. Tennessee Wesleyan 6. Ave Maria (Fla.) 7. Cumberlands (Ky.) 8. Ottawa (Kan.) 9. Reinhardt (Ga.) 10. Siena Heights (Mich.) Dropped from the Top 10: Davenport (Mich.) (no longer NAIA member); Columbia (S.C.) (No. 8) Receiving Votes: Benedictine (Kan.) 40; Columbia (S.C.) 33; Aquinas (Mich.) 24; Missouri Baptist 24; Marian (Ind.) 7; Midland (Neb.) 3; Point (Ga.) 3.