Fayetteville, NC – The USA South announced the softball preseason coaches' poll today with defending USA South regular season and conference tournament champions Methodist University at the top. Methodist received five of the eight first-place votes for 46 points.

Greensboro College finished second with 39 points and two first-place votes. Christopher Newport University rounded out the top-three as the Captains collected 35 points. North Carolina Wesleyan College received two-first place votes and were picked to finish fourth.
Peace was picked 6th with just 19 votes, after loosing seven starter’s from last season's club which finished the regular season in 6th place in the conference (23-13, 5-9).

Despite loosing seven starters the Pacers will return one senior and three juniors from last season. Senior Lauren Pleasant, three time All-USA South pitcher and USA South Rookie of the year in 2004, will return to the mound for her final season with the Pacers. Last season Pleasant was moved to center field due to an injury to her pitching arm. Despite the injury, Pleasant led the conference in on base percentage, and was 2nd in batting average. With Pleasant injured, Junior Joanie Blevins was called upon last season to take on most of the pitching duties. Blevins finished the 2005-06 season with record of 12-10 and was 4th in the USA South in wins. Junior Kenni Seagroves paced the club on the defensive effort ending last season with .964 fielding percentage. Coach Dobbins brought in ten newcomers for the 2006-07 season along with Holly Braswell, who played for Peace in 2004-05.

The first pitch of the 2006-07 season will be on Sunday, February 18th as Peace will host Guilford College at home in a double-header at the Wachovia Athletic Park. Game time is set for 1:00 PM.

2007 USA South Softball Coaches Poll
Rank Institution (1st place Votes) Pts.
1. Methodist (5) 46
2. Greensboro (1) 39
3. Christopher Newport 35
4 N.C. Wesleyan (2) 33
5. Ferrum 29
6. Peace 19
7. Shenandoah 16
8. Averett 7