ROCK HILL, SC – UVA Wise softball student-athletes
Taylor Clay,
Adyson Gibson,
Chloe Murphy,
Kaylynn Baker, and
Lindsey Polan have been named Players to Watch for the upcoming season by the South Atlantic Conference. Conference officials made the announcement along with the Preseason Coaches Poll earlier today.
In the Preseason Coaches Poll the Highland Cavaliers were picked to finish eleventh. Lenoir-Rhyne was picked to finish first, followed by Wingate.
Taylor Clay, a sophomore from Coeburn, made an immediate impact last season as she led the team in several categories, including hits (48), runs scored (34), assists (129), and batting average (.358).
Kingsport's
Kaylynn Baker was one of the main offensive threats last season. The sophomore led the team with eleven doubles while posting a .345 batting average while having 39 hits and 24 RBI.
Adyson Gibson led the team last season in walks (28) and stolen bases (13-15). The Gate City, Virginia, native was good at finding a way to get on the pond any way she could as she also hit .321 for the season with 45 hits and 15 RBI while scoring 33 runs of her own.
A sophomore from Blacksburg,
Lindsey Polan had a solid freshman campaign as she hit .309, had a slugging percentage of .876, and led the team in at bats with 149. She had 46 hits with seven doubles, a triple, and led the team in home runs with eight in addition to 35 RBI.
Chloe Murphy begins her collegiate career this season after a standout prep career at Chapmanville (WV) Regional High School. Murphy was a multi-year All-Cardinal Conference and All-State performer for the Tigers as well as one of the top pitchers in the state. She also got it done in the classroom as she graduated Summa Cum Laude back in June.
The team will open their season next week in the Lee Invitational, which will be played at the University of Chattanooga's Frost Field, which is the site of the 2026 NCAA Division II Championship. They will play Lee (3 p.m.) and Young Harris (5:30 p.m.) on Feb. 6 and West Florida (1:30 p.m.) and Union (TN)(4:00 p.m.) on Feb. 7. They will then travel to face Ferrum for the first time since 2009 on Feb. 10 before returning to Wise for 16 of their next 20 games beginning with a weekend hosting Cedarville and Charleston Feb. 13-14.
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2026 SAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
| Rank |
School (first place votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (9) |
130 |
| 2. |
Wingate (3) |
123 |
| 3. |
Lincoln Memorial |
101 |
| 4. |
Carson-Newman |
99 |
| 5. |
Tusculum |
95 |
| 6. |
Anderson |
79 |
| 7. |
Emory & Henry |
74 |
| 8. |
Catawba |
67 |
| 9. |
Mars Hill |
53 |
| 10. |
Newberry |
47 |
| 11. |
UVA Wise |
30 |
| 12. |
Coker |
26 |
2026 SAC Softball Preseason All-Conference
C – Lani Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B – Avery Kiger, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Brooke Smith, Tusculum
SS – Ellie Alvarez, Tusculum
3B – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate
OF – Abby Hunter, Tusculum
OF – Maddy Staples, Newberry
DP – Hanna Bogoski, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/Non-P – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
UTL/P – Carson Hobbs, Anderson
P – Katie Morris, Anderson
P – Jillian Thomas, Wingate
