Jan. 12, 2009

With the season opener less than 25 days away the North Carolina softball team picked up their first preseason ranking of the year as ESPN's Graham Hays picked the Tar Heels as his No. 20 overall team in his preseason poll. The Tar Heels are coming off a record-setting 50-12-1 season that saw them host their first NCAA regional in school history. Carolina will take on Louisville on Feb. 6 in Miami, Fla. at the FIU Invitational.

Click here to read Graham Hays' take on the 2009 Tar Heels.