VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview   

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference's head softball coaches have tabbed C-N for a second place finish in the league.  The SAC released this year's preseason poll Wednesday morning. 

Lenoir-Rhyne, the defending regular season SAC titlists, were picked to repeat as league champs with nine first place votes. 

The Eagles followed with three first place votes and 117 points, 13 behind the Bears. 

"I think a lot of it goes back to our pitching last year with Alli Webster," head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "Then we have some upperclassmen who are strong with their bats, and defensively.  Then, maybe, with all the video that's out their today, they may know a thing or two about our freshmen coming in. You can't read a whole lot into it, but I'd much rather be number two, than somewhere else down the line."

Wingate and last year's defending tournament champion Catawba round out the top four. 

Anderson, Lincoln Memorial and Newberry check in fifth through seventh.  Queens, Mars Hill, Coker, Tusculum and Brevard round out the rest of the poll. 

This is Carson-Newman's highest preseason positioning in the last five years.  The Eagles were ranked fifth, fourth twice, and third last season. 

The Eagles are a mix of veteran and rookie in 2017.  C-N returns All-America candidates at pitcher in Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) and at shortstop in Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.). 

Carson-Newman has experience returning in the outfield in Ashlyn Cooper (Friendsville, Tenn.), at third in Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) and at catcher in Cheyenne Boles (Knoxville, Tenn.). 

Five freshman could work their way into the Eagles' opening day starting lineup.

C-N cracks open the season Feb. 2 against Lees-McRae.  First pitch against the Bobcats is set for 1 p.m.  Coverage of the game will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.

Rk   Team (first-place votes)             Points

1.     Lenoir-Rhyne (9)                                130

2.     Carson-Newman (3)                          117

3.     Wingate                                                109

4.     Catawba                                                 93

5.     Anderson                                                91

6.     Lincoln Memorial                                 90

7.     Newberry                                                68

8.     Queens                                                    66

9.     Mars Hill                                                 52

10.  Coker                                                      47

11.  Tusculum                                               43

12. Brevard                                                   19