VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman has been picked fourth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll, the league office announced Wednesday morning.
The Eagles return three starters from last year's team that finished 22-12 overall and went 14-10 in South Atlantic Conference play. Carson-Newman finished last season tied for fourth in the league standings with Wingate.
"It's always nice to see where you're picked just to see what people think of you," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "Other than that, it is what it is. It really doesn't amount to anything. What's harder in our conference is trying to figure out the bottom four because the league is so deep and talented."
The Eagles collected 119 points in the poll.
Lincoln Memorial was picked to repeat as league champions with 153 points and nine first-place votes. The Railsplitters went 38-8 last year. Anderson follows with the remaining four first-place votes and 145 points.
Lenoir-Rhyne has the biggest jump from finish last season to projected finish in 2022. The Bears finished seventh in last year's standings but are picked third in front of C-N by three points, with 122.
Wingate sits in fifth just eight points behind Carson-Newman to round out teams that received triple-digit votes in the poll.
Last year's reigning SAC tournament champion Tusculum has been picked sixth with 94 votes, while Catawba and Newberry round out the top eight with 82 votes each.
UVA Wise and Limestone are tied for ninth with 68 votes.
Coker, Mars Hill and Queens round out the poll.
Carson-Newman opens the season in Milledgeville, Ga. Feb. 5 in Milledgeville, Ga..
- Lincoln Memorial (9) 153
- Anderson (4) 145
- Lenoir-Rhyne 122
- Carson-Newman 119
- Wingate 111
- Tusculum 94
- Catawba 82
- Newberry 82
- UVA Wise 68
- Limestone 68
- Coker 49
- Mars Hill 43
- Queens 34
