WALESKA, Ga.— The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) shared its 2026 AAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll Tuesday morning, and the Montreat College Cavaliers found themselves tied for seventh with another program. According to the league office's release, the Cavs tallied 94 points in the voting process, equal to Columbia International University.
Montreat sat 32 points behind Tennessee Wesleyan University for No. 6, as well as 14 points ahead of No. 9 Columbia College. Reinhardt University captured 180 total points and 11 first-place votes as the coaches' favorite to win the AAC in 2026.
Coming off its top season in over two decades, Montreat went 32-14 (20-8 AAC) during the 2025 campaign, both program-best win totals since at least 2004. With their strong regular season, the Cavaliers tied for third in the conference standings, and they entered the AAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed. As April came to a close, Montreat eliminated Milligan University from the postseason bracket, marking the squad's first AAC Tournament win since 2018. Ultimately, the Cavs notched a 1-2 record at the 2025 AAC Tournament in Kingsport, Tenn.
The AAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll was voted on by the head coaches of institutions in the league. Programs garnered 14 points for a first-place vote, 13 for second place, 12 for third place and so on until all 14 squads were ranked. The standings were then organized by most points received to least points received.
Montreat is currently slated to open its 2026 regular season schedule on Friday, Feb. 6 versus Alice Lloyd College and Indiana University Columbus in Black Mountain, N.C.
2026 AAC Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) – Total Voting Points
1. Reinhardt (11) – 180 points
2. Johnson (1) – 161 points
3. Bryan – 148 points
4. Brenau (1) – 136 points
5. Truett McConnell – 131 points
6. Tennessee Wesleyan – 126 points
T7. Montreat – 94 points
T7. Columbia International – 94 points
9. Columbia – 80 points
10. Spartanburg Methodist – 72 points
11. Milligan – 54 points
12. Pikeville – 44 points
13. Union Commonwealth – 30 points
14. Bluefield – 15 points
