Feb. 1, 2013
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The defending ACC Champion Georgia Tech softball team has been picked by the league’s head coaches to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013. The Jackets received 38 points and one first-place vote.
The Yellow Jackets return six starters from last year’s team that went 37-23 and captured its third ACC Tournament title in four years. Tech lost second-team All-American and two-time ACC Player of the Year Kelsi Weseman, but return several key components from last year’s squad including 2012 ACC Tournament MVP Hope Rush.
Tech will begin the season receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball and the USA Today/NFCA top 25 polls.
North Carolina, who is ranked No. 21/22 in the preseason polls, was chosen to win the regular season with four first-place votes and 45 points. No. 24/25 Florida State earned three first place votes and 44 points to come in second.
Rounding out the preseason coaches’ poll are Virginia Tech, Virginia, NC State, Maryland and Boston College.
The Yellow Jackets are in the middle of preseason practice and the 2013 season opener is just one week away. Tech will open the campaign at Mewborn Field in the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational Feb. 8-10. The Jackets will play Eastern Michigan, Butler, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina.
Fifteen of the teams Tech plays this season advanced to a 2012 NCAA Regional (Coastal Carolina, Miami (Ohio), Northwestern, California, Florida, Oregon State, Michigan, Louisville, Notre Dame, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida State). Georgia, Missouri, Michigan and Cal reached the super regionals, and Cal advanced further to the WCWS.
Keep up to date with the Georgia Tech softball team all season long at www.RamblinWreck.com, as well as twitter.com/GaTechSoftball.
Team (1st Place Votes) Points 2012 Record (ACC)
1. North Carolina (4) 45 43-15 (13-4)
2. Florida State (3) 44 47-16 (16-5)
3. Georgia Tech (1) 38 37-23 (12-8)
4. Virginia Tech 31 42-21 (12-8)
5. Virginia 23 26-25 (8-13)
6. NC State 20 23-31 (5-15)
7. Maryland 14 34-22 (10-8)
8. Boston College 9 23-30 (3-18)
