The UVA Softball program, coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last spring, is in the Softball America preseason Top 25 for the first time in program history.
Virginia put in a 34-20 season in 2024 and finished the year ranked No. 22 in the final Softball America poll after advancing to the championship game of the Knoxville Regional against No. 3 Tennessee.
That was the second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance for the ‘Hoos and first time a Virginia team advanced to a regional championship game.
Virginia finished 2024 fourth in the ACC standings with a 15-9 mark in league play.
The Cavaliers return seven position starters off last year’s squad and also return four of six members of the bullpen. Included in those returners are junior right-handed pitcher Eden Bigham and junior shortstop Jade Hylton, who were both ranked among the Top 100 players in the preseason by both Softball America and D1 Softball.