GREENVILLE, S.C.– The Conference Carolinas office released the 2026 softball preseason poll Friday afternoon, with Chowan University among the 16 institutions represented in the conference.
Chowan was picked ninth in the preseason rankings as the Hawks prepare to open the season in one week. Entering the 2026 campaign, the program looks to continue its upward trajectory under fourth-year head coach Junior Bailey and assistant coach Presley Bissett. After posting a strong 2025 season, the Hawks aim to build on that momentum and further establish themselves within the conference.
Players to watch this season include senior Kyra Helton of Elon, North Carolina; junior Calliope James of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and senior Abby Rutledge of Middleburg, Florida.
The Patriots have won the last three Conference Carolinas Tournament titles and won the east division each of the last two years as they sit atop the poll with 225 points and 15 first place votes. UNC Pembroke received the final first place vote and 184 points to land in the second slot. King University, North Greenville University and Southern Wesleyan rounded out the top five. King received 178 points, North Greenville 174 points and Southern Wesleyan 171 points.
The top 10 is concluded by the University of Mount Olive (157), Young Harris College (143), Barton College (127), Chowan University (119) and Emmanuel University (115).
Converse University (96), Belmont Abbey College (67), Shorter University (58), Erskine College (47), Lees-McRae College (35) and Ferrum College (24) rounded out the poll.
The 2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship is scheduled to take place from Thursday, April 23-Sunday, April 26 at Tyger River Park in Duncan, South Carolina.
The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
2026 Conference Carolinas
Softball Preseason Poll
|
School |
Votes (first place) |
| 1 |
Francis Marion |
225 (15) |
| 2 |
UNC Pembroke |
184 (1) |
| 3 |
King |
178 |
| 4 |
North Greenville |
174 |
| 5 |
Southern Wesleyan |
171 |
| 6 |
Mount Olive |
157 |
| 7 |
Young Harris |
143 |
| 8 |
Barton |
127 |
| 9 |
Chowan |
119 |
| 10 |
Emmanuel |
115 |
| 11 |
Converse |
96 |
| 12 |
Belmont Abbey |
67 |
| 13 |
Shorter |
58 |
| 14 |
Erskine |
47 |
| 15 |
Lees-McRae |
35 |
| 16 |
Ferrum |
24 |
2026 Conference Carolinas Softball
Players to Watch
Barton
- Emily Bobo, So., RHP, Mount Ephraim, New Jersey
- Madison Mercer, Sr., 2B, Wilson, North Carolina
- MacKenzie Taylor, Sr., OF, Mebane, North Carolina
Belmont Abbey
- Casey Laing, Jr., IF, Bluffton, South Carolina (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Alayna Patrick, So., IF, Kings Mountain, North Carolina
- Megan Towery, Jr., OF, Dallas, North Carolina
Chowan
- Kyra Helton, Sr., OF, Elon, North Carolina
- Calliope James, Jr., P/OF, Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Abby Rutledge, Sr., P, Middleburg, Florida
Converse
- Alexis Felker, Fr., C/IF, Oviedo, Florida
- Olivia Jones, So., IF, Lancaster, California
- Tyler Karabach, Fr., P/OF, Bothell, Washington
Emmanuel
- Grace Ausborn, Jr., IF, Hall County, Georgia
- Ciara Passmore, Jr., OF, Macon, Georgia
- Kelsey Lester, So., C, Smiths Station, Alabama
Erskine
- Gabby Burroughs, Sr., C/ IF, Greenville, South Carolina
- Savannah Koester, Sr., OF, Summerville, South Carolina
- Zalee Brown, Fr., LHP, Taylorsville, North Carolina
Ferrum
- Emily Wood, So., P, Huddleston, Virginia
- Mirenda Shields, So., C, Moyock, North Carolina
- Nicole Emerson, So., Util, Dry Fork, Virginia
Francis Marion
- Alyssa Poston, Sr., LHP, Hartsville, South Carolina (2025 and 2024 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, 2025 NFCA second team All-America, 2025 D2 CCA second team All-America, 2025 D2 CCA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year)
- Paige Strickland, Sr., OF, Creedmoor, North Carolina (2025 NFCA second team All-America, D2 CCA first team All-America, 2025 D2 CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year, 2025 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year)
- Madalyn White, Sr., SS, Currie, North Carolina (2025 D2 CCA second team All-America, 2025 NFCA first team All-Region, 2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
King
- Riley Lamb, Jr., RHP, Portal, Georgia (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Aubrey King, So., C/1B, Kennesaw, Georgia
- Giana Winge, So., OF/C, Plainfield, Illinois (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
Lees-McRae
- Allie Johnston, Jr., IF, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Avery Walston, Sr., IF, Wake Forest, North Carolina
- Taylor Beurrier, Sr., IF, Stuart, Florida (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
Mount Olive
- Sam Taylor, Sr., OF/C, Winterville, North Carolina (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Alex Steen, Jr., P, Cheraw, South Carolina,
- Emma King, So., MF, Dillon, South Carolina
UNC Pembroke
- Summer Bullard, Sr., RHP, Pembroke, North Carolina (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Kaitlynn Hunt, So., IF, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
- Alona Hanna, So., UTL, Lumberton, North Carolina (2025 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year)
North Greenville
- Karley Green, Sr., RHP/OF, Cowpens, South Carolina (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas, 2025 D2 CCA second team All-Southeast Region)
- Maddie Stone, Sr., C, Williamston, South Carolina (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Ari Day, So., UTL, Simpsonville, South Carolina
Shorter
- Madison Bishop, Fr., P, Marietta, Georgia
- Hayden Joyner, Jr., P, Ellabell, Georgia
- Rylee Gattis, Sr., P Southside, Alabama
Southern Wesleyan
- Maddie Crouch, So., SS, Morganton, North Carolina
- Olivia Haag, Sr., P/OF, Buford, Georgia
- Chloe Smith, So., P/UTL, Villa Rica, Georgia
Young Harris
- Shelby Duncan, Sr., IF, Concord, Georgia (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Gracie Hughes, Sr., RHP/IF, Woodstock, Georgia (2025 Conference Carolinas all-defensive team)
- Bailee Brown, Sr., OF., Concord, Georgia
