Buena Vista, VA – The USA South Athletic Conference has released its 2026 Softball Preseason Poll, with Southern Virginia tied for sixth place alongside Methodist University in the 10-team league.

Pfeiffer was selected as the preseason favorite, followed by N.C. Wesleyan and Meredith to round out the top three.

The Knights are coming off a historic season in which they earned their first-ever USA South Tournament victory and tied the program record for home runs in a season since joining the NCAA. Building on that momentum, Southern Virginia returns 12 players while welcoming seven newcomers to the roster.

Among the notable returners is Taelor Ware, the reigning USA South Rookie of the Year. Abby Southern returns after posting the fifth-best ERA in the conference (3.10), while Sophia Badell ranked 11th in the league in batting average (.404) and 14th in on-base percentage (.451). Morgan Rich anchored the defense with an impressive .988 fielding percentage and 59 putouts. Additional returners Kayla Littleford, Abigail Minx, Cheyenne Pepe, Malia Stauffer, and Nevaeh Woodhouse all made meaningful contributions in conference play last season.

With six seniors graduating, the Knights will look to both their experienced core and their incoming class to make an immediate impact in 2026.

The USA South Tournament will once again be held at campus sites, with the top eight teams advancing to postseason play. The tournament begins with two four-team, double-elimination brackets scheduled for Thursday–Saturday, April 30–May 2. The winners will then meet in a best-of-three championship series on Friday–Saturday, May 8–9.

Southern Virginia opens its season with a 10-game homestand, beginning Thursday, February 26, against Randolph College.