The Kentucky softball team was voted to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference?s Eastern Division according to a preseason poll of the league?s head coaches. Tennessee was voted by the league?s coaches to win the 2006 SEC regular-season and Eastern Division titles. Alabama was selected to win the Western Division.

?We are in an extremely tough conference and we are still trying to play catch-up,? said second-year head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?Every coach will tell you that preseason polls do not matter. It?s not where we?re picked before the season starts, it?s where we are at the end that?s important. We just need to keep working and progressing every day and things will take care of themselves.?

The Wildcats return 12 letterwinners from last year?s squad that finished 20-41 overall and 4-25 in the SEC. Seniors Meghan Cooper, Megan Glenn, Amy Kendall and Lori Melchi all return for their final season, while the Cats add seven newcomers to the 2006 roster.

Tennessee earned nine out of 11 first-place votes. The Lady Vols finished the season with a 67-15 record, with including a trip to the Women?s College World Series where they fell to eventual national champion Michigan.

In the Eastern Division race, Tennessee tallied 49 points and 9 first-place selections. Georgia was second with 39 points and received one first-place vote. Florida was third with 37 total points, including a first-place vote. They were followed by South Carolina with 23 points and Kentucky with 14.

Alabama paced the Western Division vote tally with 57 points and 7 first-place votes. Auburn and LSU tied for the 2nd place spot in the West, as both squads received 48 points and two first-place votes. Mississippi State placed third with 38 points, followed by Ole Miss with 22 points. Arkansas was sixth with 20 points.

Points for the poll were awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Eastern Division and on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Wildcats open the season Feb. 10 against Washington at the Alexis Resort Kickoff Tournaemnt in Las Vegas, Nev. UK opens the home portion of its schedule, Feb. 18-19, when it hosts Kent State in a three-game series at the UK Softball Complex.

2006 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches? Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
SEC CHAMPION: Tennessee (9), Florida (1), Georgia (1)
EASTERN DIVISION

1. Tennessee (9)
2. Georgia (1)
3. Florida (1)
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky

WESTERN DIVISION

1. Alabama (7)
2. Auburn (2)
2. LSU (2)
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas