Posted: Jan 28, 2015

Huntingdon ranked third in USA South preseason softball poll

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon softball team enters its second season in the USA South Athletic Conference ranked third. The USA South preseason poll was released on Wednesday.

The Lady Hawks earned 120 points in the poll. Preseason favorite and defending conference champion Piedmont received 11 first-place votes and 141 points. Second-place Averett picked up the other two first-place votes and totaled 131 points.

The Lady Hawks were 25-15 last season and reached the USA South conference championship game. It was the fourth straight season Huntingdon has played in a conference championship. Before joining the USA South, the Lady Hawks reached the finals of the Great South Athletic Conference in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Behind Huntingdon, Ferrum is fourth with 105 points, LaGrange is fifth with 90 points, Greensboro is sixth with 78 points, North Carolina Wesleyan is seventh with 71 points and Meredith is eighth with 70 points.

Rounding out the poll are William Peace in ninth with 63 points, Methodist in 10th with 62 points, Covenant in 11th with 37 points, Maryville in 12th with 34 points and Mary Baldwin in 13th with 12 points.

Huntingdon opens the season on Feb. 10 with a doubleheader at Talladega. Game 1 is set for 2 p.m.

The complete poll is listed below.

USA South Softball Preseason Poll

1. Piedmont (11 first-place votes), 141 points

2. Averett (2), 131 points

3. Huntingdon, 120 points

4. Ferrum, 105 points

5. LaGrange, 90 points

6. Greensboro, 78 points

7. N.C. Wesleyan, 71 points

8. Meredith, 70 points

9. William Peace, 63 points