Virginia Picked Third In ACC Preseason Softball Poll

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Feb. 2, 2001

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Virginia softball team has been picked to finish third in the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Softball Coaches Poll as voted by the league’s five head coaches. The Cavaliers totaled 14 points in the poll.

Florida State has been unanimously picked as the ACC’s top team in 2001. The Seminoles, who reached the NCAA Tournament last season, received all five first-place votes in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll for a total of 25 points. Florida State has won three straight ACC Tournament titles. North Carolina came in second in the poll with 18 points. The Tar Heels finished 6-2 in the league last year and had an impressive 19-1 home record. North Carolina was followed by Virginia, who ranked third in the poll with 14 points. The Cavaliers have been the ACC Tournament runner-up over the past three seasons.

With 11 points, Maryland finished fourth in the voting, and Georgia Tech rounded out the poll with seven points.

Virginia finished the 2000 season with a 27-38 overall record and a 3-5 mark in the ACC. UVa was also 5-5 in Southern Atlantic Softball Alliance play. Fourth-year head coach Cheryl Sprangel’s Cavaliers open the 2001 season February 16-18 at the UNC Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C. Virginia’s first game of the tournament is against Long Island on February 16 at 12 noon. The Cavaliers also play Indiana at 2:00 p.m. the same day.

The entire ACC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll follows.

2001 ACC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll1.  Florida State    252.  North Carolina   183. Virginia       144.  Maryland         115.  Georgia Tech      7