ROCK HILL, S.C. - Head coach Shena Hollar and the Lenoir-Rhyne softball team have been picked to finish first in the South Atlantic Conference this year, as voted on by the conference coaches. 

Lenoir-Rhyne finished with a record of 38-19 last season, winning their second consecutive SAC Tournament Championship. The Bears then advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional, where they won two games, the 10th time in program history the Bears have won at least two NCAA Tournament games. Following the season Madison Primm and Lani Warren were each named NFCA All-Americans. Coach Hollar sits at 1,063 career wins, the third most amongst active NCAA Division II coaches and 14th in all NCAA divisions. 

2025 NFCA All-American Lani Warren and SAC Freshman of the Year Avery Kiger were named to the South Atlantic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team. Players to watch for the Bears included Sage Young, Autumn Joyce, and Montana Honeycutt.

The Bears are scheduled to open their 2026 campaign with three straight matchups on the road, beginning with Lander this Sunday in Greenwood, S.C. Lenoir-Rhyne will open up McCrorie Family Stadium for the year on Wednesday, February 11, when they host Belmont Abbey at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Eight more non-conference doubleheaders will take place before the Bears travel to Catawba on Saturday, March 14, for their South Atlantic Conference opener. The first home SAC series will be on Saturday, March 21, against 2025 NCAA participant Lincoln Memorial. The rematch of last year's SAC Championship will take place at Wingate on Friday, April 3.  

The opening rounds of the SAC Tournament will take place at the campus sites of the top four seeds on May 1-3. The winners of those games will face off in a four-team, double-elimination bracket on May 7-9 at the location of the highest seed remaining. 

2026 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Lenoir-Rhyne - 130 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Wingate - 123 points (3 first-place votes)
3. Lincoln Memorial - 101 points
4. Carson-Newman - 99 points
5. Tusculum - 95 points
6. Anderson - 79 points
7. Emory & Henry - 74 points
8. Catawba - 67 points
9. Mars Hill - 53 points
10. Newberry - 47 points
11. UVA Wise - 30 points
12. Coker - 26 points

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