Release Link: http://usasouth.net/sports/sball/2016-17/releases/20170131nn3dvc 

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference's softball coaches have released their 2017 preseason polls. Each divisional preseason poll only includes votes from coaches within that particular division-only. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting. Additionally, the Conference welcomes new League members Agnes Scott College, Salem College and Wesleyan College.

Piedmont College, under the direction of Head Coach Terry Martin in his 19th year, are the defending USA South regular season champions and were picked to capture the West Division title. The Lions were the Conference Tournament's top seed but were bounced during the second day of competition. Piedmont received 47 total points and six first place votes. Placing second in the poll with 42 points and one first place vote was Maryville College. LaGrange College followed in third place with 33 points and the final first place vote while Salem was fourth with 32 points. Placing fifth was Huntingdon College with 31 points while Covenant College collected 17 points, good for sixth place. Rounding out the poll were Agnes Scott (14 points) and Wesleyan (eight points).

The softball regular season gets underway on Saturday, February 4 three teams are in action.

The 2017 USA South Softball Tournament will feature the top-six teams from each division and begin on the weekend of April 7-9. The top-three seeds from each division will host best-of-three series. The winners of those series will advance to a six-team double-elimination tournament which will be played April 13-15 at the Shuford Softball Complex in LaGrange, Georgia as a part of the USA South Spring Sports Festival, hosted by the City of LaGrange and Troup County.