BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee was chosen to finish second in the Southeastern Conference Preseason Softball Coaches Poll released on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lady Vols were picked fifth in last season’s SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll before tying for third in the regular season and advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. The poll was voted on by the head coaches of the league’s 13 softball-playing institutions and points were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Florida was picked to win the league for the fifth straight season after finishing first in the regular-season standings for the past three years. The Gators received 11 of the possible 13 first-place votes. Also receiving first-place votes were Tennessee (one) and No. 5 Alabama (one). View the entire release on the SEC’s official website HERE.

The Lady Vols are coming off a 48-12 season which saw them reach their 14th consecutive NCAA regional and their ninth overall Super Regional. Tennessee returns five players who earned SEC postseason honors a year ago and also brings back eight of its top 10 hitters from 2017. The Big Orange begins its season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 8 and kicks off its home slate with a doubleheader on March 2 against Charleston Southern and Toledo. View the complete schedule HERE.

2018 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

Rank – School – Points
1. Florida (11), 143
2. Tennessee (1), 119
3. Texas A&M, 114
4. LSU, 109
5. Alabama (1), 107
6. Auburn, 85
7. Ole Miss, 81
8. Kentucky, 76
9. Georgia, 49
10. Arkansas, 39
11. Missouri, 34
12. South Carolina, 30
13. Mississippi State, 28

-UT Athletics