In a preseason poll of the SEC's 11 softball coaching staffs, the defending SEC regular-season champion and NCAA Division I runner-up Tennessee Lady Vols were picked to finish second in the Eastern Division.

UT had 19 votes to trail Florida Gators (11 points) in the division race with Georgia (29 points), South Carolina (35 points) and Kentucky (46 points) rounding out the five members of the SEC East.

Alabama was selected as the coaches’ pick to take the regular-season championship as well as the SEC Western Division. The Tide had 11 points and defending division champion had 19. Mississippi State came in third with 33, while Auburn (35), Ole Miss (48) and Arkansas (49) completed the West standings.

Tennessee will open its 2008 season in the Cathedral City Kickoff in Cathedral City, Calif. The Lady Vols will face Utah State on Feb. 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Big League Dreams Sports Park.

Meanwhile, senior first baseman/third baseman Tonya Callahan and sophomore catcher/first baseman Tiffany Huff of the Lady Vols were among 50 players named to the preseason watch list for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year award.

SEC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll

Overall Conference Champion: Alabama (8), Florida (2), LSU (1)

Eastern Division:

1. Florida (11 points)

2. TENNESSEE (19 points)

3. Georgia (29 points)

4. South Carolina (35 points)

5. Kentucky (46 points)

Western Division:

1. Alabama (11 points)

2. LSU (19 points)

3. Mississippi State (33 points)

4. Auburn (35 points)

5. Ole Miss (48 points)

6. Arkansas (49 points)

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.