GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Florida State leads all ACC teams with four selections to the 2021 Preseason All-ACC Softball Team and has been selected as the 2021 ACC preseason favorite in a vote of the league’s 13 head coaches.
The Seminoles, who have won the last six ACC Softball Championships, received nine first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Virginia Tech finished second in the poll with 136 points and four first-place votes, while Notre Dame was picked third with 114 points. Duke (99 points), North Carolina (96 points) and Clemson (88 points) were slated fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Louisville was picked seventh with 81 points, followed by NC State (78 points), Georgia Tech (61 points) and Syracuse in 10th with 39 points. Pitt finished with 31 points for 11th, and Virginia (28 points) and Boston College (22 points) rounded out the voting.
Virginia Tech and Clemson each have three representatives on the team, while Duke, North Carolina, NC State and Notre Dame each have one selection.
The preseason squad includes nine players named to the 2020 Preseason All-ACC Softball team. Five members were named 2019 First Team All-ACC, two of which were named to the All-Freshman Team, and two 2019 Second Team All-ACC selections. There was no 2020 All-ACC Softball team due to the COVID-shortened season.
The Preseason All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of a minimum of 14 players. Each ballot was comprised of five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, a catcher and either a designated player or utility player.
2021 Preseason All-ACC Softball Team
Hannah Goodwin, Clemson, R-Fr., IF
DJ Davis, Duke, Sr., IF
Sydney Sherrill, Florida State, Jr., IF
Katie Marino, Notre Dame, Gr., IF
Kelsey Bennett, Virginia Tech, So., IF
Marissa Guimbarda, Clemson, Jr., OF
Dani Morgan, Florida State, Sr., OF
Taty Forbes, NC State, Sr., OF
Jayme Bailey, Virginia Tech, So., OF
Caylan Arnold, Florida State, Sr., P
Brittany Pickett, North Carolina, Sr., P
Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech, Jr., P
Anna Shelnutt, Florida State, Sr., C
Valerie Cagle, Clemson, R-Fr., UT
2021 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
- Florida State (141 points, nine first-place votes)
- Virginia Tech (136 points, four first-place votes)
- Notre Dame (114 points)
- Duke (99 points)
- North Carolina (96 points)
- Clemson (88 points)
- Louisville (81 points)
- NC State (78 points)
- Georgia Tech (61 points)
- Syracuse (39 points)
- Pitt (31 points)
- Virginia (28 points)
- Boston College (22 points)
