ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The American Athletic Conference announced Wednesday that UCF softball is tabbed fourth in the 2018 AAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted by the league's head coaches.
Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, housing 13-of-18 underclassmen, the Knights return five all-conference players from last year's roster that finished 29-23 overall and third in the conference standings at 11-7. Junior Cassady Brewer and sophomore Kyra Klarkowski lead UCF into the 2018 campaign after earning first team All-American Athletic Conference accolades last spring. Sophomores Jazmine Esparza and Alea White along with senior Courtney Rotton will also be looked to for guidance after each was placed on the league's second team in 2017.
Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie enters her 17th season at the helm after starting the Knights' softball program in 2002. Gillispie has compiled a record of 591-381-1 at UCF while also leading the Knights to seven NCAA Regional appearances and four conference championships.
Tulsa was selected as the league favorite, earning six first-place votes and accumulating 48 total points. The Golden Hurricane have won back-to-back AAC Tournament titles and return four all-conference players. Houston (44 points) and South Florida (34 points) round out the top three preseason spots.
The Knights are three weeks away from their season opener on Feb. 9 against Louisville in the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational, which UCF will host at Soldier's Creek Park in Winter Springs, Fla. The eight-team invitational will also feature Butler, Illinois, North Carolina, North Florida, Providence and South Alabama.
| School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. Tulsa (6) | 48 |
| 2. Houston (2) | 44 |
| 3. USF | 34 |
| 4. UCF | 29 |
| 5. Wichita State | 25 |
| 6. Memphis | 19 |
| 7. UConn | 14 |
| 8. ECU | 11 |
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the highly-anticipated 2018 softball season are currently on sale. General admission tickets to all 21 home games are priced at $50 for adults and $25 for ages 2-17. Click here or call (407) 832-1000 for additional ticketing information.
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