Cougars voted to finish first in PCSC preseason poll

PORTLAND, Ore.-BYU softball grabbed the top spot in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference preseason poll for 2013.

All seven head coaches participated in the poll and six of the seven gave BYU a first-place vote, each worth seven points. BYU received 48 votes overall followed by Loyola Marymount with 39 and San Diego with 32. Saint Mary’s received the other first place vote as the defending conference champions and were picked to finish just behind San Diego with 31 votes. Utah Valley finished with 18, CSU Bakersfield with 15 and Santa Clara with 13 votes.

In their first season in the PCSC, the Cougars will look to improve upon their record of 45-15 and 15-4 in conference play last year. BYU finished the 2012 season after winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament championship and traveling to the NCAA Oregon Regional for its eight-straight postseason appearance. The Cougars ended their season against Oregon in a 4-1 loss.

BYU also received four votes for the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll to be ranked No. 35 in the nation. 

BYU will start its 2013 campaign on Feb. 7 against Colorado State in the Red Desert Classic at 1:30 p.m. MST.

2013 PCSC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

No.    School (1^st Place Votes)      Pts

1.      BYU (6)                                   48

2.      Loyola Marymount                  39

3.      San Diego                               32

4.      Saint Mary’s (1)                      31

5.      Utah Valley                             18

6.      CSU Bakersfield                     15

7.      Santa Clara                            13