University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Picked Fourth In ACC Preseason Poll
February 3, 2014 | Softball
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) - North Carolina was picked to finish fourth in the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season, as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches.
Florida State has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2014 ACC softball regular season. The Seminoles, who won the regular season crown last year and enter this season ranked No. 15 nationally, received 98 points and eight first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to include their own team on their ballot.
NC State, which finished the regular season in second place and won the conference tournament last year, received 87 points, including the remaining three first-place votes. Notre Dame, beginning its first year in ACC play, came in third with 80 points.
Rounding out the top five were North Carolina with 74 points and Virginia Tech with 70 points. The remainder of the poll saw Maryland with 50 points, Syracuse with 42 points, Georgia Tech with 40 points, Virginia with 26 points, Pitt with 24 points and Boston College with 14 points.
Florida State, North Carolina, NC State and Virginia Tech all represented the conference in the 2013 NCAA Softball Championship.
The 2014 season kicks off this weekend, with 10 of the league's 11 teams in action.
Rank Team Points (First-Place Votes) 2013 Record (ACC)
1. Florida State 98 (8) 44-19 (18-2)
2. NC State 87 (3) 35-20 (13-7)
3. Notre Dame 80 43-15
4. North Carolina 74 40-21 (13-8)
5. Virginia Tech 70 38-21 (9-11)
6. Maryland 50 31-26 (13-8)
7. Syracuse 42 23-29
8. Georgia Tech 40 25-30 (10-10)
9. Virginia 26 21-28 (4-17)
10. Pitt 24 19-29
11. Boston College 14 14-38 (2-19)
