From Arizona Athletics
The Arizona softball team was ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Tuesday. It marks Arizona’s first preseason top-10 ranking in the poll since its No. 8 ranking in 2012.
Defending champion Oklahoma was tabbed as the unanimous No. 1, receiving all 32 first-place votes and 800 points to garner the first unanimous preseason pick since 2012. Last season’s runner-up, Auburn, which Arizona nearly eliminated in the Auburn Super Regional, is No. 2. Florida State (third) and Florida and LSU (tied fourth) round out the top five.
Arizona is one of three Pac-12 teams in the top 10 and one of five in the top 25. UCLA, Oregon and Arizona are eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively while Washington is 13th and Utah is 18th.
The Wildcats will play seven teams ranked in the top 25. In addition to its four aforementioned Pac-12 foes, UA will face top-ranked Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida State and No. 21 Baylor. The Bears visit Hillenbrand Stadium for the season-opening Hillenbrand Invitational (Feb. 9-12).
Arizona returns eight starters and all four pitchers from its 2016 team that won 40 games and advanced to the program’s 11th NCAA Super Regional in 12 years. Seniors Danielle O’Toole, Katiyana Mauga, Mo Mercado and Mandie Perez highlight an eight-player senior class whose guidance will be especially important welcoming in seven freshmen, a class ranked No. 3 nationally.
UA has also been ranked in the preseason top 10 by D1 Softball News (No. 5) and FloSoftball (No. 9).
Arizona opens up the 2017 season on Feb. 9, when the Wildcats host Fordham at 6 p.m. to kick off the Hillenbrand Invitational.
The Arizona softball team was ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Tuesday. It marks Arizona’s first preseason top-10 ranking in the poll since its No. 8 ranking in 2012.
Defending champion Oklahoma was tabbed as the unanimous No. 1, receiving all 32 first-place votes and 800 points to garner the first unanimous preseason pick since 2012. Last season’s runner-up, Auburn, which Arizona nearly eliminated in the Auburn Super Regional, is No. 2. Florida State (third) and Florida and LSU (tied fourth) round out the top five.
Arizona is one of three Pac-12 teams in the top 10 and one of five in the top 25. UCLA, Oregon and Arizona are eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively while Washington is 13th and Utah is 18th.
The Wildcats will play seven teams ranked in the top 25. In addition to its four aforementioned Pac-12 foes, UA will face top-ranked Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida State and No. 21 Baylor. The Bears visit Hillenbrand Stadium for the season-opening Hillenbrand Invitational (Feb. 9-12).
Arizona returns eight starters and all four pitchers from its 2016 team that won 40 games and advanced to the program’s 11th NCAA Super Regional in 12 years. Seniors Danielle O’Toole, Katiyana Mauga, Mo Mercado and Mandie Perez highlight an eight-player senior class whose guidance will be especially important welcoming in seven freshmen, a class ranked No. 3 nationally.
UA has also been ranked in the preseason top 10 by D1 Softball News (No. 5) and FloSoftball (No. 9).
Arizona opens up the 2017 season on Feb. 9, when the Wildcats host Fordham at 6 p.m. to kick off the Hillenbrand Invitational.
