Fayetteville, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference has released is preseason coaches' poll for softball, with N.C. Wesleyan earning an 8th-place billing among the league's 13 teams. The Bishops tallied 72 points in the poll, which was headed up by Piedmont College with ten first-place votes.
Head Coach John Brackett enters his 23rd season at the helm of the program and hopes that his Bishops are able to turn the corner this spring after hovering around the .500 mark the past two seasons. Boasting a roster of 22 players, he returns eight position starters from last year's squad that recorded a 10-12 mark in conference play. Leading the way are All-Conference performers Jasmine Edgren and Paige Pritchett, while senior Leanna Fann will once again anchor the pitching staff.
Wesleyan kicks off its regular season on February 15th when the Bishops travel to non-conference rival Virginia Wesleyan for a two-game set beginning at 1:00pm. The 2014 USA South Softball Tournament will be played April 11-13 at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex as a part of the USA South Spring Sports Festival.
Below is the complete 2014 USA South Preseason Softball Poll.
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2014 USA South Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
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Rank
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Institution (1st Place Votes)
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Pts.
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1.
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Piedmont (10)
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142
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2.
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Ferrum (3)
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133
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3.
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Huntingdon
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109
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4.
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Methodist
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105
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5.
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Meredith
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97
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6.
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LaGrange
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90
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7.
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Greensboro
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85
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8.
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N.C. Wesleyan
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72
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9.
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Averett
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64
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10.
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William Peace
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41
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11.
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Covenant
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31
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12.
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Maryville
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29
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13.
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Mary Baldwin
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16
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