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 Thursday. Arizona, which received a first-place vote, totaled 61 points in the poll, eight behind preseason favorite Washington.

The Huskies were picked as the preseason favorite while defending NCAA champion UCLA is second. The Wildcats are third for the second consecutive year. Washington (No. 1), UCLA (No. 4) and Arizona (No. 5) are all ranked in the top five of the preseason NFCA Top 25.

Arizona State was picked fourth and Oregon rounds out the top five. Stanford and Oregon State are sixth and seventh, respectively, while California and Utah are tied for eighth.

The Wildcats return a Pac-12-high-tying five all-conference players from a season ago, including first-team selections Reyna Carranco, Jessie Harper and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, second-team pick Malia Martinez and third-teamer Alyssa Denham. The Wildcats are coming off a 48-14 season a year ago, when they advanced to their 23rd Women's College World Series. Arizona finished third in the Pac-12 with a 19-5 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 28 of head coach Mike Candrea's 34 prior seasons in Tucson. 

UA opens the season next week at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. UA opens the season on Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Kansas and Seattle University. The Cats will then face Portland State and Western Michigan on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend vs. No. 12 Tennessee on Sunday.

PRESEASON PAC-12 COACHES POLL

1.   Washington (6)	69
2.   UCLA (2)	65
3.   Arizona (1)	61
4.   Arizona State	49
5.   Oregon	40
6.   Stanford	38
7.   Oregon State	34
T8.   California	20
T8.   Utah	20

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