TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona softball has been selected to finish third in the Pac-12 in a preseason vote by the coaches, the conference announced on Tuesday. Arizona totaled 50 points in the poll, 11 behind preseason favorite UCLA and 10 behind second-place Washington.
The Bruins and Huskies, who open the season as second and third in the NFCA Top 25, respectively, were picked first and second, separated by just one point; UCLA received five first-place votes, Washington received the other four. Arizona, with 40 votes, rounded out the top three.
Arizona State was picked fourth while California and Oregon State tied for fifth. Utah, Stanford and Oregon, were seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
The Wildcats return a Pac-12-high six all-conference players from a season ago, including first-team selections
Jessie Harper,
Taylor McQuillin and
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza.
Dejah Mulipola was a second-team all-Pac-12 selection a year ago while
Reyna Carranco and
Alyssa Denham were named to the league's third team. The Wildcats posted a 43-16 record a year ago and qualified for their 13th NCAA Super Regional in the last 14 seasons; UA finished fifth in the Pac-12 with a 13-11 record.
Arizona is in search of its 13th conference championship in 2019, and first since 2017. The Wildcats have finished top three in the conference in 27 of head coach Mike Candrea's 33 seasons in Tucson.Â
2019 PRESEASON PAC-12 COACHES POLL
|
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
UCLA (5) |
61 |
| 2. |
Washington (4) |
60 |
| 3. |
ARIZONA |
50 |
| 4. |
Arizona State |
43 |
| t5. |
California |
31 |
| t5. |
Oregon State |
31 |
| 7. |
Utah |
19 |
| 8. |
Stanford |
17 |
| 9. |
Oregon |
12 |
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