or the third straight season, the LSU softball team was picked by conference coaches to finish second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division behind defending national champion and pre-season No. 1 Alabama.

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. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

No. 10 LSU garnered 28 points in the poll, up from 19 points last season, when the Tigers were also selected second in the West.

The Tigers finished last season with a Women’s College World Series run and this season’s schedule will hand them 21 games against preseason Top 25 teams, including 12 games against 4 different ranked SEC opponents. LSU finished last season with a 40-25 record.

The only team to top LSU in the West was Alabama, who was unanimously voted to repeat as three–time defending conference regular season champions. The Crimson Tide received 12 points in the poll and eight of the possible 13 first place votes for overall conference champion.

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

SEC newcomer Texas A&M was picked to finish third in the West after being ousted by LSU in last season’s NCAA Regional.

Ole Miss and South Carolina were voted to the bottom of the SEC basement, earning 74 and 65 points respectively.

LSU hosts Hampton, No. 22 North Carolina, Purdue and Tulsa to open the season at the Tiger Classic Feb. 8-10.