University of Houston Athletics
Houston Picked Third in Preseason Poll
1/12/2021 1:58:00 PM | Softball
Cougars awarded 23 points in poll
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball program was selected third in the 2021 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Tuesday.
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The Cougars received 23 points, finishing behind USF (31) and UCF (36), which was chosen to win the league. Rounding out the rest of the poll was Tulsa (20), Wichita State (18), ECU (11) and Memphis (8).
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Since 2017, Head Coach Kristin Vesely has guided the Cougars to four top-three finishes in the conference, more than any other program in the league during that span. Houston returns 15 letterwinners from its 2020 squad that went 16-7, before COVID-19 canceled the remainder of the season and strung together the program's first 11-game winning streak since 2011.
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Among those returning are the Cougars' top four hitters from a year ago, including seniors Lindsey Stewart (.404), Aspen Howie (.339), Sarah Queen (.333) and junior Kati Ray Brown (.333), whose nine home runs led the conference and ranked 15th in the nation.
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2021 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Team (First-Place Votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Points
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Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH. For more information, Click Here.
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– UHCougars.com –
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The Cougars received 23 points, finishing behind USF (31) and UCF (36), which was chosen to win the league. Rounding out the rest of the poll was Tulsa (20), Wichita State (18), ECU (11) and Memphis (8).
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Since 2017, Head Coach Kristin Vesely has guided the Cougars to four top-three finishes in the conference, more than any other program in the league during that span. Houston returns 15 letterwinners from its 2020 squad that went 16-7, before COVID-19 canceled the remainder of the season and strung together the program's first 11-game winning streak since 2011.
Â
Among those returning are the Cougars' top four hitters from a year ago, including seniors Lindsey Stewart (.404), Aspen Howie (.339), Sarah Queen (.333) and junior Kati Ray Brown (.333), whose nine home runs led the conference and ranked 15th in the nation.
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2021 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Team (First-Place Votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Points
- UCF (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36
- USF (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 31
- HOUSTONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23
- Tulsa                     20
- Wichita State               8
- ECUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11
- Memphis                  8
Follow Houston Softball on Twitter and Instagram at UHCougarSB, and "Like" UHCougarSB on Facebook.
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH. For more information, Click Here.
Â
– UHCougars.com –
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