The Holy Family University softball team was voted to finish sixth in the 2024 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Preseason Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. 
 
The Tigers return eight of its top 10 student-athletes in at-bats and its top four in innings pitched from last year's team, whose sixth-place finish was its highest since finishing second 2017. 
 
2017 was also the last time HFU had at least 17 wins, which it has now accomplished in back-to-back seasons. 
 
Defending champion and World Series participant Wilmington was the unanimous preseason favorite in the poll. 
 
Second place Bridgeport received the lone remaining first-place vote, with Georgian Court, Felician and Caldwell rounding out the top-five ahead of HFU. 
 
The top eight teams in the regular season standings qualify for the 2024 CACC Tournament, which begins with the first round hosted by higher seeds on April 27. The higher-seeded teams need to only win once to advance, while the lower-seeded teams need to sweep a doubleheader. 
 
The four winners from the first round then move on to a double-elimination bracket, which will be hosted by Wilmington from May 2-4. 
 
2024 CACC SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Wilmington University 121 (11 first-place votes)
2. University of Bridgeport 108 (1)
3. Georgian Court University 91
4. Felician University 90
5. Caldwell University 87
6. Holy Family University 68
7. Goldey-Beacom College 62
8. Thomas Jefferson University 44
9. Post University 42
10. Bloomfield College 38
11. Dominican University 25
12. Chestnut Hill College 16