TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona softball received five of the eight possible first-place votes in the Pac-12 Coaches Poll, but was picked to finish second overall behind favorite UCLA.
 
Arizona, which has been picked to finish third in each of the last two seasons, has not been in the Pac-12 Coaches Poll top two since 2011, when the Cats and Bruins were tabbed as co-favorites in the league.
 
UCLA, despite receiving just three first-place votes to Arizona's five, was picked to win the league with 59 total points. Arizona finished with 57 points. Oregon, which has won four straight Pac-12 championships, was picked third along with Washington, with 47 points apiece. The complete poll is listed below.
 
This marks the eighth time since the preseason coaches poll began in 2001 that Arizona and UCLA have been pegged as first and second, in either order.
 
The Wildcats start the season ranked No. 10 in the NFCA Top 25 and No. 12 in the USA Softball poll. UA is looking for its 11th conference title in 2017, and first since 2007, also the program's last of eight NCAA Championships.
 
Arizona returns eight starters and all four pitchers from its 2016 team that won 40 games and advanced to the program's 11th NCAA Super Regional in 12 years. Seniors Danielle O'Toole, Katiyana Mauga, Mo Mercado and Mandie Perez highlight an eight-player senior class whose guidance will be especially important welcoming in seven freshmen, a class ranked No. 3 nationally.
 
Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll

1.	UCLA (3)	59
2.	ARIZONA (5)	57
3.	Oregon (1)	47
	Washington	47
5.	Utah	40
6.	California	26
7.	Oregon State	21
8.	Arizona State	19
9.	Stanford	8

 
Up Next: Arizona opens up the 2017 season on Feb. 9, when the Wildcats host Fordham at 6 p.m. to kick off the Hillenbrand Invitational.
 
Follow Arizona Softball: For further coverage of Arizona softball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team's Twitter and Instagram accounts (@UA_Softball).