The LSU softball team was predicted by conference coaches to finish second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division behind defending National Champion and pre-season No. 1 Alabama on Monday.

Points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 basis for the West with the points only going up to six for the East due to Vanderbilt not having a program. The fewer points a team receives, the higher its ranking is, with coaches not allowed to vote for their own team.

LSU garnered 28 points in the poll, up from 19 points for the same rank last season.

The Crimson Tide swept the vote to repeat as division and three–time defending conference regular season champions with 12 points and eight of the possible 13 first place votes for conference champion.

Tennessee is the favorite to be the SEC’s Eastern Division champion. The Lady Vols were the only team other than Alabama to receive votes to win the conference title