WISE, VA — The South Atlantic Conference released the 2022 Preseason Softball Poll on Wednesday, and the UVA Wise softball team ranked in 9th place. 

Sitting in the No. 1 spot is Lincoln Memorial, who accumulated 20 wins and led the conference in the 2021 season. The Railsplitters tallied nine first-place votes and 153 points.

In the No. 2 spot and gathering four first place votes is Anderson University with 145 points, while No. 3 Lenoir-Rhyne University earned a total of 122 points. Carson-Newman University placed fourth in this year's poll with a total of 119 points. Following closely behind in the No. 5 spot was Wingate University with a total of 111 points and Tusculum University at No. 6 with 94 points. Catawba College and Newberry College tied in the No. 7 with 82 points, while UVA Wise and Limestone University tied at No.9 with 68 points. Coker University came in at No. 11 with 49 points, Mars Hill University took the No.12 slot with 43 points and rounding out the poll with 34 points is Queens University.

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason first and second All-Conference teams, with one Cavalier on each — McKenna Falwell was voted the first team designated player and Sarah Barrett was named second-team second baseman. The multifaceted Falwell pitched 12 complete games last year, ranking in the top 10 of the SAC. In addition, Falwell pitched two shutouts. At the plate, she mustered up an impressive .414 batting average. 

From Barrett, she put together a .906 fielding percentage and 71 putouts in the 2021 season. 

The South Atlantic Conference softball season will kick off on Tuesday February 1, 2021.  The 2022 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship will take place April 29-30 at Lincoln Memorial's Dorothy Neely Softball Complex. 

2022 Softball Preseason Poll

2022 SAC Softball Preseason All-Conference

All-SAC First Team

OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman

OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial

1B – Kayson Boatner, Anderson

2B – Katie Wilbur, Limestone

SS – Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial

3B – Heaven Maness, Wingate

DP – McKenna Falwell, UVA Wise

UTL/Non-P – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne

UTL/P - Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne

C – McKenzie Henry, Lincoln Memorial

P – Emma Frost, Lincoln Memorial

P – Harlie Duncan, Anderson

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Kelsi Scott, Coker

OF – Anna Alloway, Tusculum

OF – Mya Maddox, Tusculum

1B – Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial

2B – Sarah Barrett, UVA Wise

SS – Leah Sohm, Carson-Newman

3B – Hannah Towery, Newberry

DP – Hailey Hill, Newberry

UTL/Non-P – Ashley Parnell, Limestone

UTL/P - Emily Sappington, Tusculum

C – Chloe Freischmidt, Tusculum

P – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne

P – Alexandrea Sullivan, Newberry