Lady Hawks ranked fourth in USA South West Division preseason poll

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon softball team is ranked fourth in the USA South Athletic Conference West Division poll. The conference preseason poll was released on Wednesday.

Huntingdon totaled 45 points in the poll. Maryville, the 2018 conference tournament champion, is the preseason favorite with eight first-place votes and 64 points.

Piedmont is second with one first-place vote and 57 points and Covenant is third with 46 points. Behind Huntingdon, LaGrange is fifth (38 points), Wesleyan is sixth (25 points), Brevard is seventh (24 points), Berea is eighth (17 points) and Agnes Scott is ninth (eight points).

Pfeiffer leads the East Division poll with seven first-place votes and 63 points. Salem, the 2018 East Division champion, is second with one first-place vote and 50 points. North Carolina Wesleyan in third with 47 points and Meredith is fourth with one first-place vote and 42 points.

Huntingdon opens the season on Saturday in Memphis, Tenn. The Lady Hawks play the University of the Ozarks at 10 a.m. and Rhodes at 2 p.m.

The complete East and West Division polls are listed below.

USA South Softball Preseason Poll  

West Division

1. Maryville (8 first-place votes), 64 points

2. Piedmont (1), 57 points

3. Covenant, 46 points

4. Huntingdon, 45 points

5. LaGrange, 38 points

6. Wesleyan, 25 points

7. Brevard, 24 points

8. Berea, 17 points

9. Agnes Scott, 8 points

East Division

1. Pfeiffer (7 first-place votes), 63 points

2. Salem (1), 50 points

3. N.C. Wesleyan, 47 points

4. Meredith (1), 42 points

5. Averett, 41 points

T6. Greensboro, 29 points

T6. William Peace, 29 points

8. Methodist, 15 points

9. Mary Baldwin, 8 points