SEC SOFTBALL: Defending champ Tennessee picked to repeat conference title
By GRAHAM DUNN
Defending champion Tennessee has been picked to win the 2024 SEC softball title according to a vote by the league’s 13 head coaches in the annual preseason poll. (Vanderbilt does not field a softball team).
Tennessee and Georgia, who finished in second place in the poll, each earned six first-place votes, while Florida had one. Points were compiled on a descending basis. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Perennial favorite Alabama was picked sixth, just behind Auburn.
For the first time in the coaching tenure of Pat Murphy, Alabama did not have a member of his team selected preseason All-Conference by the coaches. All but three teams did not have a player selected.
Tennessee led the way with five selections. Georgia and LSU both had four while Auburn, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri each had two. Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas A&M each had one preseason pick. The Preseason All-SEC Softball Team consists of a minimum of 21 players and no ties are broken.
SEC teams are slated to begin the 2024 softball season on Thursday, Feb. 8 with conference play set to begin on Friday, March 8.
Alabama opens the season in the Buzz Classic tournament in Atlanta against Villanova. Auburn opens Feb. 9 in its own Tiger Invitational against Virginia Tech.
The 2024 SEC Softball Tournament is scheduled for May 7-11 at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn.
SEC 2024 Predicted Order of Finish
Selected by coaches (First-place votes in parentheses)
Tennessee (6) 137
Georgia (6). 136
LSU. 106
Arkansas 103
Auburn 100
Alabama 88
Florida (1) 77
Texas A&M 75
South Carolina 68
Kentucky 53
Missouri 28
Ole Miss 24
Miss St 19
Preseason All-SEC Softball Team
Name School Class Hometown
Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas R-Sr. Valdosta, Ga.
Maddie Penta, Auburn Sr. Chesapeake City, Md.
Nelia Peralta, Auburn Jr. Wellington, Fla.
Kendra Falby, Florida Jr. Odessa, Fla.
Skylar Wallace, Florida R-Sr. Woodstock, Ga.
Jayda Kearney, Georgia Sr. Columbus, N.J.
Sydney Kuma, Georgia Gr. Fresno, Calif.
Sara Mosley, Georgia Fifth Year Ellijay, Ga.
Shelby Walters, Georgia Gr. Cohutta, Ga.
Erin Coffel, Kentucky Sr. Bremen, Ind.
Stephanie Schnoover, Kentucky Sr. Dothan, Ala.
Sydney Berzon, LSU So. Buffalo, N.Y.
Ciara Briggs, LSU Gr. Yorba Linda, Calif.
Danieca Coffey, LSU Sr. Richwood, Texas
Taylor Pleasants, LSU Gr. Houston, Texas
Alex Honnold, Missouri Sr. West Des Moines, Iowa
Jenna Laird, Missouri Sr. East Meadow, N.Y.
Alana Vawter, South Carolina Fifth Year Kansas City, Mo.
McKenna Gibson, Tennessee Jr. Santa Clarita, Calif.
Payton Gottshall, Tennessee Gr. Massillon, Ohio
Kiki Milloy, Tennessee Gr. Woodinville, Wash.
Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee So. Weaverville, N.C.
Zaida Puni, Tennessee Sr. Carson, Calif.
Julia Cottrill, Texas A&M Sr. Wichita, Kan.