University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 25 UNC Tabbed Third In ACC Coaches' Poll
January 26, 2011 | Softball
Jan. 26, 2011
- 2011 ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll
- USA Today/NFCA Poll | ESPN/USA Softball Top 25
- 2011 Season Preview
- 2011 Softball Schedule | PDF
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- No. 25 North Carolina was predicted to finish third by the Atlantic Coast Conferences eight league head coaches Wednesday as announced by the league office. The Tar Heels, who are ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, open the 2011 season Feb. 11 against Kansas in Jacksonville, Fla.
Georgia Tech, who claimed the 2010 regular season and tournament championships, received 49 points after collecting the maximum seven first-place votes to be named the predicted 2011 regular season champion. Coaches were not allowed to include their own team on their ballot.
Regular season and tournament runner-up Florida State was nabbed to finish second in the standings, earning 41 points. Only three points separated third and fourth place as North Carolina tallied 34 points to Virginia's 31. The Tar Heels also received a first-place vote. Picked to finish fifth was Maryland with 26 points.
Rounding out the 2011 preseason predictions were NC State in sixth with 21 points, Virginia Tech in seventh with 15 and Boston College in eighth with seven.
The ACC sent a league-record five teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2010. UNC (No. 25), Georgia Tech (No. 18) and Florida State are all receiving recognition in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll released Tuesday.
Additionally, two ACC teams were in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. Georgia Tech lead the way at No. 17 and Florida State is No. 23. Both North Carolina and Maryland are receiving votes.
UNC returns 14 letter winners from a team that registered a 42-20 mark and No. 24 final national ranking a year ago. The Tar Heels add six new freshmen and two new assistant coaches' in 2011. Carolina posted a perfect 5-0 mark this fall and will look to advance to their 10th straight NCAA Regional this spring.
The Tar Heels open the 2011 season Feb. 11 against Kansas in Jacksonville, Fla. For more Carolina softball updates, check back into THB.com.
| 2011 ACC Predicted Order of Finish | |||
| Place | Team (1st place Votes) | Points | 2010 Record |
|
1. |
Georgia Tech (7) | 49 | 51-11 |
| 2. | Florida State | 41 | 44-18 |
| 3. | North Carolina (1) | 34 | 42-20 |
| 4. | Virginia | 31 | 34-23 |
| 5. | Maryland | 26 | 34-24 |
| 6. | NC State | 21 | 28-27 |
| 7. | Virginia Tech | 15 | 25-33 |
| 8. | Boston College | 7 | 16-33 |
