Last season the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) regular season and tournament championships came down to the wire and based on the votes of the SSAC coaches, this year could be comparable. Lee University was voted by the coaches to win the SSAC Softball Championship over Shorter College by three votes, 76 to 73.

Both teams received four (4) first place votes by the coaches. Last year, both of these teams competed, along with Brenau University for the SSAC championship. Shorter and Brenau edged the Lady Flames of Lee out last year from the national tournament. Shorter, as the tournament winner, won the automatic qualifier to the NAIA National Tournament last year while Brenau advanced as an at-large berth having won the regular season championship in a tight race with Lee and Shorter.

One of the biggest movers in this year's poll is Auburn-University Montgomery, with 59 points, who enters their second season of their program. Brenau (53) and Faulkner (50) come in just behind AUM.

This year's championship tournament will be held in conjunction with the SSAC Baseball Championships in Columbus, Georgia at the South Commons Complex in the Stadium Field from April 29 through May 2.

Listed below is the complete 2010 SSAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll:

Ranking, School (First Place Votes), Points

1. Lee University (4) 76
2. Shorter College (4) 73
3. Auburn University-Montgomery 59
4. Brenau University (1) 53
5. Faulkner University 50
6. Brewton Parker College 32
7. Emmanuel College 26
8. Southern Wesleyan University 23
9. Columbia College 13