University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Picked to Finish Fifth in SEC Preseason Poll
January 18, 2017 | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tennessee was chosen to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll released on Wednesday afternoon.
2017 SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
- (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
- 1. Florida (9) – 141 Points
- 2. Auburn (2) – 126 Points
- T3. LSU (1) – 118 Points
- T3. Alabama – 118 Points
- 5. Tennessee – 98 Points
- 6. Texas A&M (1) – 83 Points
- 7. Georgia – 78 Points
- 8. Kentucky – 75 Points
- 9. Missouri – 53 Points
- 10. Ole Miss – 45 Points
- 11. South Carolina – 38 Points
- 12. Mississippi State – 28 Points
- 13. Arkansas – 13 Points
The Volunteers were also picked fifth in last season’s SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll before finishing tied for third in the regular season and advancing to the SEC Tournament semifinals. The poll was voted on by the head coaches of the league's 13 softball-playing institutions and points were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Florida was picked to win the league for the fourth straight season after finishing first in the regular-season standings for the past two years. The Gators received nine of the possible 13 first-place votes. Also receiving first-place votes were No. 2 Auburn (two), No. 3 LSU (one) and No. 6 Texas A&M (one). View the entire release on the SEC’s official website HERE.
The Vols are coming off a 43-16 season which saw them reach their 13th consecutive NCAA regional. UT returns four players who earned SEC postseason honors a year ago and also brings back seven of its top 10 hitters from 2016. The Big Orange begin their season at the Eagle Round Robin in Statesboro, Ga., on Feb. 10 and kick off their home slate with a doubleheader on March 2 against Southeastern Louisiana and Ohio. View the complete schedule HERE.
