SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A league-high eight Bulldogs were selected to this year's Southern Conference Preseason First & Second Teams while the team itself received two first place votes, 31 points overall, to finish second in the SoCon Preseason team rankings.

The league-high eight players along with the second place team ranking is the most and highest in the program's history to date but Head Coach Mandy Burford believes that it'll be what the team does throughout the upcoming season that will determine if the team deserves the preseason praise.

"Preseason accolades are great and we are honored to receive them but at the end of the day it's just words on paper; we have to show up and prove that we are ready to play." Burford said. "Hopefully, the six week stretch of preseason games and weekend tournaments will prepare us for a tough SoCon schedule."

Chattanooga received a league's most first-place votes with four and finished with an overall 34 points, just three ahead of Samford, while Furman picked up a single first-place vote to come in third and Mercer right behind at fourth.

"The strength of our conference is growing and it showed at the end of last season with the way so many teams battled to finish towards the top." Burford stated. "This upcoming season is going to be very competitive and we are going to have to work hard to have success."

Four Bulldogs – pitcher Mollie Hanson, first baseman Caitlin Bice and outfielders Megan Dowdy and Caroline Wilder – were named preseason first-teamers. Wilder made it in the designated player slot. Outfielder Shelby Maze, who was named the league's freshman of the year in 2015, was selected to the preseason All-SoCon second team along with Callie Brister, Abbie Miranda and Abby Sweeney.

Samford opens the 2016 season at the Sand Dollar Classic hosted by The Fieldhouse in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Friday, Feb. 12, against Central Arkansas. First-pitch is slated for noon (CST).

Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)    Points
1. Chattanooga (4)               34
2. Samford (2)                     31
3. Furman (1)                       25
4. Mercer                            24
5. UNCG                             15
6. Western Carolina             11
7. ETSU                              7
 
Preseason Player of the Year (tie)
Sieara Bishop, Furman, Sr., SS
Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, Sr., C
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P       Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.
P       Mollie Hanson, Samford, R-Sr.
C       Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, Sr.
1B     Tory Wright, UNCG, Jr.
1B     Caitlin Bice, Samford, Sr.
2B     Criket Blanco, Chattanooga, Sr.
3B     Danielle Vega, UNCG, Sr.
SS     Sieara Bishop, Furman, Sr.
OF     Taylor Miller, Mercer, Jr.
OF     Allison Geiner, UNCG, Sr.
OF     Megan Dowdy, Samford, Sr.
DP    Caroline Wilder, Samford, Sr.
UT     Nicole Thomas, UNCG, Sr.
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P       Cori Jennings, Chattanooga, So.
P       Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina, Sr.
C       Abby Sweeney, Samford, Jr.
1B     Caroline Taylor, Mercer, Jr.
2B     Abbie Miranda, Samford, Jr.
3B     Callie Brister, Samford, Sr.
SS     Alyssa Taylor, Chattanooga, Sr.
OF     Meghan Rud, Mercer, So.
OF     Shelby Maze, Samford, So.
OF     Sam Taylor, Chattanooga, Sr.      
OF     Courtney Price, Western Carolina, Jr.
DP    Elise Smith, Furman, Jr.
UT     Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.