Kirsti Merritt and the Florida Gators will open the 2016 season as the No. 1 team in the nation.
Gators Tabbed No. 1 in Both Preseason Polls
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 | Softball
The UF softball team will open the 2016 season as the No. 1 ranked squad in the country.
Complete Polls – USA Today/NFCA | ESPN.com/USA Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Coming off the program's second straight national championship, the University of Florida softball team will open the 2016 season as the No. 1-ranked squad in the country, according to the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
The Gators received 26 first-place tallies (782 points) in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll and 17 first-place votes (495 points) in the ESPN.com Poll. Florida headlines the top five in each poll followed by Michigan, LSU, Auburn/Oregon and Alabama.
In addition, UF is joined by seven other SEC programs in the polls: LSU, 3/3; Auburn, 4/6; Alabama, 5/5; Tennessee, 8/9; Georgia, 12/14; Missouri, 15/12; Kentucky, 18/18.
Entering his 11th season, Head Coach Tim Walton has the nation's preseason No. 1 team for the third time and second year in a row. Prior to last season, the Gators opened atop the rankings in 2009 following their record-setting 70-win campaign in 2008.
UF returns 12 letter winners in 2016, including All-America first team infielder and the reigning SEC Player of the Year Kelsey Stewart, All-America third team pitcher Aleshia Ocasio and All-Region first team outfielder Kirsti Merritt. In addition, Florida's roster boasts seven freshmen.
Florida begins its season on Feb. 12 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, and the home opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Jacksonville. Conference play starts at Auburn on March 12 and the SEC Tournament will be held at Mississippi State from May 11-14.
The Gators are scheduled to face 14 teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 preseason poll this year. UF's full 2016 schedule is available on FloridaGators.com.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Coming off the program's second straight national championship, the University of Florida softball team will open the 2016 season as the No. 1-ranked squad in the country, according to the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
The Gators received 26 first-place tallies (782 points) in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll and 17 first-place votes (495 points) in the ESPN.com Poll. Florida headlines the top five in each poll followed by Michigan, LSU, Auburn/Oregon and Alabama.
In addition, UF is joined by seven other SEC programs in the polls: LSU, 3/3; Auburn, 4/6; Alabama, 5/5; Tennessee, 8/9; Georgia, 12/14; Missouri, 15/12; Kentucky, 18/18.
Entering his 11th season, Head Coach Tim Walton has the nation's preseason No. 1 team for the third time and second year in a row. Prior to last season, the Gators opened atop the rankings in 2009 following their record-setting 70-win campaign in 2008.
UF returns 12 letter winners in 2016, including All-America first team infielder and the reigning SEC Player of the Year Kelsey Stewart, All-America third team pitcher Aleshia Ocasio and All-Region first team outfielder Kirsti Merritt. In addition, Florida's roster boasts seven freshmen.
Florida begins its season on Feb. 12 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, and the home opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Jacksonville. Conference play starts at Auburn on March 12 and the SEC Tournament will be held at Mississippi State from May 11-14.
The Gators are scheduled to face 14 teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 preseason poll this year. UF's full 2016 schedule is available on FloridaGators.com.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
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