PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Coming off of its best campaign at the Football Championship Subdivision level, the Elon Phoenix will begin the 2010 season ranked seventh in the country in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Preseason Poll. That is two positions higher than Elon concluded its 9-3 2009 year.

Elon was selected to finish second in the Southern Conference by both the league's coaches and media and has earned top-10 preseason rankings in polls released by The Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Lindy's.

Said Elon head coach Pete Lembo, "We appreciate the respect from the voters based on the success of our team the past three seasons. However, this is a new year with a whole new set of challenges. It's the poll at the end of the year that really matters."

The Phoenix returns 13 starters, including the SoCon's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in senior quarterback Scott Riddle. Including Riddle, Elon placed six players on the preseason all-league teams.

Defending national champion Villanova (14-1 in 2009) garnered 104 of the 126 first-place votes to hold the top spot. Montana (14-1), last year's national runner-up, sits second after earning nine first-place votes.

Elon's SoCon rival Appalachian State (11-3) picked up eight first-place votes and comes in at number three in the preseason rankings. William & Mary (11-3) sits fourth and received three first-place nods while Southern Illinois (11-2) rounds out the top-five after picking up one first-place vote.

Richmond (11-2) comes in just ahead of the Phoenix at number six. The Spiders, who face Elon on Sept. 18, also earned one first-place vote.

Behind Elon in the top-10 are Stephen F. Austin (10-3), South Dakota State (8-4) and New Hampshire (10-3).

The 2010 campaign begins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 4 when Elon visits Duke in Durham, N.C.

A limited number of season tickets remain and individual game tickets are also on sale by calling the Elon ticket office at 336-278-6750 or by visiting elonphoenix.com.

2010 The Sports Network/Fathead.com Preseason Top-25
1. Villanova (104 first-place votes)
2. Montana (9)
3. Appalachian State (8)
4. William & Mary (3)
5. Southern Illinois (1)
6. Richmond (1)
7. ELON
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. South Dakota State
10. New Hampshire
11. South Carolina State
12. McNeese State
13. Eastern Washington
14. Northern Iowa
15. James Madison
16. Delaware
17. Jacksonville State
18. Eastern Illinois
19. Weber State
20. Prairie View A&M
21. Libery
22. Colgate
23. Penn
24. Montana State
25. Holy Cross