University of Tennessee Athletics
#6 UT Picked To Win SEC Eastern Division
January 28, 2013 | Softball
Jan. 28, 2013
SEC Preseason Coaches Poll Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --The Southeastern Conference released its annual preseason coaches poll on Monday with No. 6 Tennessee picked to win the Eastern Division.
The Lady Vols also received five conference champion votes from the SEC coaches, putting them second behind only defending national champion and USA Today/NFCA No. 1 Alabama, which garnered eight votes.
Points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Eastern Division and a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The league will begin softball action on Feb. 7 while conference play starts March 8. The 2013 SEC Softball Tournament will be held May 8-11 in Lexington, Ky., at the UK Softball Complex.
In 2012, Tennessee went 52-14, made its fifth Women's College World Series appearance in the last eight years and won the SEC Eastern Division with a 22-6 league record. In 2013, UT returns 13 players from last season's squad and welcomes six exciting newcomers. The Lady Vols also feature five Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans in Raven Chavanne (2010, 2011, 2012), Lauren Gibson (2011, 2012), Ellen Renfroe (2011, 2012), Madison Shipman (2012) and Kat Dotson (2010).
