Hokies picked to finish fifth in ACC preseason coaches poll

Tech returns 12 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2017 squad

February 6, 2017

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Virginia Tech softball team has been picked to finish fifth in the ACC preseason poll by the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced Monday.

The Hokies earned 58 total points from the coaches and Florida State was predicted to win the conference for the fourth-consecutive season. Louisville (86), Notre Dame (84) and North Carolina (67) joined Tech in the top five of the poll.

Going up against ill-timed injuries and one of the toughest schedules in the nation last season, head coach Scot Thomas’ squad finished 29-28 overall and 16-17 in the ACC. The Hokies return 12 letterwinners, including seven starters and 2016 ACC Freshman of the Year Lauren Duff, from one of the youngest squads in the ACC in 2016.

Tech opens the season on Friday at the Sportco Kick Off Classic in Las Vegas against Indiana State at 12 p.m. EST and UNLV at 4:30 p.m. EST.

ACC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Florida State- 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Louisville – 86
3. Notre Dame – 84
4. North Carolina – 67
5. Virginia Tech – 58
6. Boston College – 57
7. Syracuse – 48
8. Pittsburgh – 44
9. NC State – 30
10. Georgia Tech – 17
11. Virginia – 14

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball