Softball Picked to Finish Fourth in ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll

The University of Louisville softball team was picked to finish fourth in the ACC according to a preseason vote by the league's 12 head coaches.

Florida State, winner of the past four regular-season and tournament titles, was the overwhelming preseason favorite, receiving 121 points and 11 first-place votes. North Carolina received 105 points and one first-place vote while Notre Dame was picked to finish third with 97 points. The Cardinals follow the Irish with 90 points and Boston College rounds out the top five.

With the addition of Duke for the 2018 season, the ACC will split into the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions. Florida State, the preseason No. 6 team in the country, will be joined in the Atlantic Division by Boston College, Louisville, NC State, Notre Dame and Syracuse. The Coastal Division will include Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

About Louisville Softball:
• The Cardinals will open the 2018 season Feb. 10-12 at the UCF Softball Invitational Feb. 9-12 in Orlando, Fla., where they will face Butler, UCF, North Carolina, North Florida and Illinois.
• In 2017, Louisville posted a 31-19 overall record and finished the season with a 14-8 mark in ACC play which placed the Cardinals second in the final ACC regular season standings.
• The Cardinals return six starters from last season including 2017 all-ACC selection senior Nicole Pufahl and all-ACC freshman team member sophomore Caitlin Ferguson as well as 2016 all-ACC selection junior Megan Hensley.
• Sandy Pearsall enters her 19^th season as UofL's head coach. After building the program from scratch in 2000, Pearsall has guided the Cardinals to six conference championships. Under her watch, Louisville has made 13 NCAA regional appearances and served as a host site in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

2018 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Florida State (11) – 121
2. North Carolina (1) – 105
3. Notre Dame – 97
4. Louisville – 90
5. Boston College – 85
6. Syracuse – 62
7. Virginia Tech – 57
8. Virginia – 43
9. Pitt – 42
10. NC State – 41
11. Georgia Tech – 29
12. Duke – 20

Atlantic Division
1. Florida State (11) - 121
2. Notre Dame- 97
3. Louisville - 90
4. Boston College - 85
5. Syracuse - 62
6. NC State - 41

Coastal Division
1. North Carolina (1) - 105
2. Virginia Tech - 57
3. Virginia - 43
4. Pitt - 42
5. Georgia Tech - 29
6. Duke - 20

Released in conjunction with the ACC

University of Louisville Athletics

Softball Picked to Finish Fourth in ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll

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