TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Three-time defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the ACC in 2016, while redshirt senior Kirsten Crowley and sophomore Megan Connolly were recognized on the Preseason All-ACC team as announced by the league on Thursday.
The No. 1 Seminoles received 191 points, including nine first-place votes to top the preseason ACC coaches poll. Virginia came in second with 178 points and three first-place votes and Duke (158 points) received the final two first-place votes and placed third.
Crowley and Connolly are among 13 returners from a Florida State team that advanced to the College Cup for the fifth straight season in 2015. Duke led the 11-member Preseason All-ACC team with three members, while FSU and Virginia each had two student-athletes selected. Boston College, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest had one member apiece.
The Seminoles open the 2016 season in College Station, Texas on August 19 as FSU takes on No. 8 Texas A&M at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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2016 ACC Predicted Order of Finish
1. Florida State (191 points, 9 first place votes)
2. Virginia (178 points, 3 first place votes)
3. Duke (158 points, 2 first place votes)
4. North Carolina (155 points)
5. Clemson (140 points)
6. Notre Dame (128 points)
7. Virginia Tech (122 points)
8. Boston College (96 points)
9. Wake Forest (74 points)
10. Louisville (63 points)
11. Pitt (59 points)
12. Syracuse (50 points)
13. NC State (29 points)
14. Miami (27 points)
2016 Preseason All-ACC Team
McKenzie Meehan, R-Sr., F, Boston College
Kailen Sheridan, Sr., GK, Clemson
Christina Gibbons, Sr., D, Duke
Toni Payne, Sr., F, Duke
Rebecca Quinn, Sr., M, Duke
Megan Connolly, So., M, Florida State
Kirsten Crowley, R-Sr., D, Florida State
Kristen McNabb, Sr., D, Virginia
Alexis Shaffer, Sr., M, Virginia
Murielle Tiernan, Jr., F, Virginia Tech
Sarah Teegarden, Sr., M, Wake Forest
