UVA Picked 2nd in Coastal in Preseason ACC Poll

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Jan. 25, 2017

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. ââ’¬” The Virginia baseball team has been selected second in the Coastal Division in the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, announced Wednesday by the conference office following a vote of the league’s 14 head coaches.

Virginia (84 points, four first-place votes) narrowly was edged out by North Carolina (86 points, six first-place votes) as the Coastal Division’s preseason favorite. Miami (77), Georgia Tech (59), Duke (40), Virginia Tech (26) and Pitt (20) rounded out the Coastal Division prognostications.

Florida State (93 points) was selected as the preseason favorite in the Atlantic Division and as the overall ACC champion. Louisville (79), Clemson (66), NC State (64), Wake Forest (38), Boston College (26) and Notre Dame (26) comprised the rest of the Atlantic Division preseason standings.

Ranked as high as 16th nationally in the preseason by Baseball America, Virginia opens the 2017 season on Feb. 17-19 at the Charleston Crab House Shootout in Charleston, S.C., where the Cavaliers will play Liberty, The Citadel and Kansas. UVA returns home Feb. 21 to begin their home schedule against VMI.

Under the tutelage of 14th-year head coach Brian O’Connor, Virginia returns 22 letterwinners from its 2016 squad that went 38-22 and earned host status for an NCAA Regional, marking the Cavaliers’ 13th straight trip to the NCAA tournament. UVA won the 2015 National Championship and has earned four College World Series berths and six NCAA Super Regional appearances since 2009.

Preseason All-Americans Adam Haseley (outfield/pitcher) and Pavin Smith (first base/outfield) and All-ACC infielder Ernie Clement highlight the returning players for the Cavaliers. The junior trio comprises half of Virginia’s six returning position starters.

Season tickets, mini packages and single-game tickets are on sale now for the 2017 Virginia baseball season. Fans may purchase tickets online at VirginiaSports.com or through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. for in-person or telephone purchases. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821).

2017 ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
Overall Champion
Florida State (10)
Clemson (1)
Louisville (1)
North Carolina (1)
NC State (1)

Atlantic Division
1. Florida State (10) – 93
2. Louisville (2) – 79
3. Clemson (1) – 66
4. NC State (1) – 64
5. Wake Forest – 38
6. Boston College – 26
6. Notre Dame – 26

Coastal Division
1. North Carolina (6) – 86
2. Virginia (4) – 84
3. Miami (3) – 77
4. Georgia Tech (1) – 59
5. Duke – 40
6. Virginia Tech – 26
7. Pitt ââ’¬” 20

**first-place votes in parentheses