ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference announced the 2026 Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday, tabbing Anderson sixth with two Trojans earning preseason honors and three on the Players to Watch list.
The Trojans have an exciting year ahead under new head coach
Kelly Roberts and assistant coach
Vanessa Wilson. Last season, the Black & Gold were given the No. 3 spot during the preseason poll before going 28-24 overall and 13-11 in SAC play to finish sixth in the conference.
Senior utility/pitcher
Carson Hobbs (Nicholson, Ga.) and senior pitcher
Katie Morris (Valley, Ala.) were named to the 2026 Preseason All-Conference team after an incredible performance during the 2025 campaign.
On the pitcher's mound, Hobbs started five games and pitched 44 innings during the 2025 season. The Nicholson native posted a 4.58 ERA with 41 strikeouts for a total of 181 on her career. In the batter's box, Hobbs recorded a .341 batting average with five doubles and three home runs to tally 24 RBI.
Morris started 26 games on the mound, pitching 156 innings during the 2025 campaign. While recording a 2.42 ERA and 139 strikeouts, the Valley native posted a 16-9 record on the season.
Along with the rankings and preseason awards, the league also named junior outfielder
Shelby Bandt (Ft. Valley, Ga.), freshman pitcher
Kora Kilgore (Smithville, Tenn.), and freshman outfielder
Bella Harbour (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Players to Watch for the 2026 season.
"I am really excited about this group and the season ahead." said head coach
Kelly Roberts. "Being picked sixth just adds fuel to the fire. This team has been working hard, and I can't wait to see what they accomplish together in the SAC this season."
In the preseason poll, Lenoir-Rhyne is seated at the top with nine first-place votes with Wingate following behind at No. 2 after receiving three votes. The No. 3 and No. 4 spots were given to Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman respectively. Following behind Anderson is No. 7 Emory & Henry and No. 8 Catawba. Mars Hil and Newberry were slotted the 9th and 10th sport respectively while UVA Wise and Coker rounded out the poll.
2026 SAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (first place votes), Points
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (9), 30
2. Wingate (3), 123
3. Lincoln Memorial, 101
4. Carson-Newman, 99
5. Tusculum, 95
6. Anderson, 79
7. Emory & Henry, 74
8. Catawba, 67
9. Mars Hill, 53
10. Newberry, 47
11. UVA Wise, 30
12. Coker, 26
2026 SAC Softball Preseason All-Conference
C – Lani Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B – Avery Kiger, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Brooke Smith, Tusculum
SS – Ellie Alvarez, Tusculum
3B – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate
OF – Abby Hunter, Tusculum
OF – Maddy Staples, Newberry
DP – Hanna Bogoski, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/Non-P – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
UTL/P – Carson Hobbs, Anderson
P – Katie Morris, Anderson
P – Jillian Thomas, Wingate
Players to Watch
Anderson: Shelby Bandt, Kora Kilgore, Bella Harbour
Carson-Newman: Grace Gregory, Santana Anderson, Abbi Martin, Malyiah Smith Catawba: Alex Baquie, Maddy Altiers, Grace Flynn, Kate Holland
Coker: Cheyenne Palmer, Mya Cribbs, Brooklyn Lovin, Bailee Gaskins, Lacey Hennessy
Emory & Henry: Abigail Street, Rachel Hill, Malorie Reeves, Hannah Booth, Tristyn Tofano
Lenoir-Rhyne: Sage Young, Autumn Joyce, Montana Honeycutt
Lincoln Memorial: Reese Vivrette, Hannah McMeen, Kristin Griffin, Anna Kate Reichter
Mars Hill: Maia Sholter, Bri Weimer, Sara Rexrode, Brooke Hanson, Sydney Hodges
Newberry: Sam Clark, Maddy Staples, Peyton Little, Haidyn Campbell
Tusculum: Sammy Jimenez, Catherine O'Donohue
UVA Wise: Taylor Clay, Adyson Gibson, Chloe Murphy, Kaylynn Baker, Lindsey Polan
Wingate: Lily Robbins, Lily Huneycutt, Damyia McFadden
