ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team has been picked to finish 7th in the South Atlantic Conference this season. The poll voted on by the 12 softball coaches in the conference was released on Tuesday.
RELATED – SAC Softball Preseason Poll Announced
Last year, E&H finished with a 31-21 record overall and went 12-12 in conference action, earning the Wasps their first ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament berth as the 7th seed. During the regular season, Emory & Henry rose to the challenge with two "run rule" victories over No. 3 North Georgia as well as conference sweeps over Mars Hill, Limestone, Carson-Newman, and No. 24 Tusculum. The Wasps season would come to an end in the first round of the SAC Tournament, falling to Lenoir-Rhyne in both games.
Lenori-Rhyne has been predicted to top the standings for the upcoming year with 9 of the 12 first place votes. Last year the Bears finished second in the regular season, and would go on to win the SAC Softball Tournament over Wingate. Wingate received the only other first place votes with 3, Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman respectively, round out the preseason top 4.
Emory & Henry will begin their 2026 Campaign on Saturday, February 7th at the Big Region Preseason Invitational in a doubleheader against Glenville State and Concord. The event is set to take place at the James K. Ellis Softball Complex at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City.
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2026 SAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Points
1. Lenoir-Rhyne(9) 130
2. Wingate(3) 123
3. Lincoln Memorial 101
4. Carson-Newman 99
5. Tusculum 95
6. Anderson 79
7. Emory & Henry 74
8. Catawba 67
9. Mars Hill 53
10. Newberry 47
11. UVA Wise 30
12. Coker 26
2026 SAC Softball Preseason All-Conference
C – Lani Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B – Avery Kiger, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Brooke Smith, Tusculum
SS – Ellie Alvarez, Tusculum
3B – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate
OF – Abby Hunter, Tusculum
OF – Maddy Staples, Newberry
DP – Hanna Bogoski, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/Non-P – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
UTL/P – Carson Hobbs, Anderson
P – Katie Morris, Anderson
P – Jillian Thomas, Wingate
Players to Watch
Anderson: Shelby Bandt, Kora Kilgore, Bella Harbour
Carson-Newman: Grace Gregory, Santana Anderson, Abbi Martin, Malyiah Smith
Catawba: Alex Baquie, Maddy Altiers, Grace Flynn, Kate Holland
Coker: Cheyenne Palmer, Mya Cribbs, Brooklyn Lovin, Bailee Gaskins, Lacey
Hennessy
Emory & Henry: Abigail Street, Rachel Hill, Malorie Reeves, Hannah Booth, Tristyn
Tofano
Lenoir-Rhyne: Sage Young, Autumn Joyce, Montana Honeycutt
Lincoln Memorial: Reese Vivrette, Hannah McMeen, Kristin Griffin, Anna Kate
Reichter
Mars Hill: Maia Sholter, Bri Weimer, Sara Rexrode, Brooke Hanson, Sydney Hodges
Newberry: Sam Clark, Maddy Staples, Peyton Little, Haidyn Campbell
Tusculum: Sammy Jimenez, Catherine O'Donohue
UVA Wise: Taylor Clay, Adyson Gibson, Chloe Murphy, Kaylynn Baker, Lindsey Polan
Wingate: Lily Robbins, Lily Huneycutt, Damyia McFadden