January 30, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

Methodist Picked as USA South Softball Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Methodist University, under the direction of tenth-year Head Coach Ron Simpson, was picked to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2008 softball title in the preseason coaches' poll. The Monarchs captured their second consecutive USA South Tournament title last season.

Methodist received six of ten first-place votes (78 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Greensboro College finished second in the balloting as The Pride received 73 points and three first-place votes. Christopher Newport University, the defending USA South Regular Season champions, earned 68 points and the final remaining first-place vote. N.C. Wesleyan College with 49 points and Peace College with 45 points rounded out the top-half of the poll.

The 2008 USA South Softball Tournament will once again be played at Springwood Park in Burlington, N.C. on April 18-20.

2008 USA South Softball Coaches Poll
Rank	Institution (1st place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Methodist (6)	78
2.	Greensboro (3)	73
3.	Christopher Newport (1)	68
4	N.C. Wesleyan	49
5.	Peace	45
6.	Ferrum	43
7.	Shenandoah	41
8.	Averett	23
9.	Meredith	16
10.	Mary Baldwin	14