BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College Tornados Softball team, under the direction of fourth-year Head Coach Bob Lowe and first-year Assistant Coach and former BC student-athlete Brittan Miller, was selected seventh in the USA South West Division in the 2019 USA South Preseason Coaches Poll.
Each divisional preseason poll only includes votes from coaches within that particular division only. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Pfeiffer University, under the direction of Head Coach Monte Sherrill, was picked to be the East Division favorite. The Falcons received 63 total points and seven place votes. Defending East Division regular-season champion, Salem College, placed second in the rankings with 50 points and one first-place vote. N.C. Wesleyan College came in third with 47 points, followed by Meredith College who grabbed 42 points and the final first-place vote.
Maryville College, under the direction of Head Coach Leah Kelley, are the defending USA South West Division and Tournament Champions and were picked to capture the West Division title. The Scots received 64 total points and eight first-place votes. Placing second in the poll with 57 points and the final first-place vote was Piedmont College. Covenant College followed in third place with 46 points while Huntingdon College was close behind with 45 points in fourth.
The USA South welcomed Brevard College and Pfeiffer University last season. These two institutions are currently reclassifying from NCAA Division II status but this year are included in the preseason poll and eligible for regular season championship honors. Brevard and Pfeiffer still will not be eligible for USA South or NCAA Tournament play until full DIII membership is established.
Brevard is coming off of an 11-19 2018 campaign in its first season playing NCAA DIII competition. The Tornados finished with a 7-7 mark against teams currently in the USA South West Division, including sweeps against Agnes Scott and Berea.
The Tornados kick off their 2019 campaign with a road test against Piedmont International University on Saturday, February 16 at 1 & 3 p.m. Brevard opens at home against Montreat College on Saturday, February 23 at 1 & 3 p.m.
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