Greenville, S.C. – Furman softball senior Sylvia Burroughs has been selected Preseason All-Southern Conference First Team in voting by the league's head coaches, it was announced on Thursday.
 
Burroughs, a native of Melbourne, Fla., earned all-league honors as a DP/Utility (non-pitcher) last season after batting .324. She totaled 14 doubles and led the Paladins in home runs (6), RBI (29), slugging percentage (.541), and walks (28) while earning playing time behind the plate, as the designated player, and as a rightfielder. A computer science major, Burroughs also earned a spot on the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
 
The Paladins, picked eighth in the SoCon following a 15-38 overall record and 5-16 conference mark a year ago, open the 2026 season under the direction of first-year head coach Mary Beth Dennison. Furman takes on Tarleton State and Gardner-Webb in the season-opening Runnin' Bulldogs Classic in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Friday, February 6.
 
Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points

1. UNCG (4)	43
2. Chattanooga (1)	37
Samford (2)	37
4. Wofford	32
5. Mercer	26
6. Western Carolina (1)	24
7. ETSU	17
8. Furman	8

Preseason Player of the Year
Olivia Shaw, Samford, Jr., IF
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Margaret Axelson, Wofford, Sr.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P          Taylor Long, Chattanooga
P          Margaret Axelson, Wofford
C          Katie Campbell, Samford
IF         Macy Michael, UNCG 
IF         Olivia Shaw, Samford
IF         Katie Campbell, Samford
IF         Lily Bell, Western Carolina
OF       Kaylyn Belfield, UNCG
OF       Joi Hubbard, Samford
OF       Sydney Dirks, Western Carolina
DP       Sylvia Burroughs, Furman
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P          Salem Ward, UNCG
P          Abby Greenwood, Wofford
C          Betsy Eatmon, UNCG
IF         Grace Jones, Mercer
IF         Hadley Gardner, UNCG
IF         Maya McPherson, Western Carolina
IF         Brianna Stanley, Wofford
OF       Samantha Beck, UNCG
OF       Rylee Butler, Western Carolina
OF       Rivers Sampson, Wofford
DP       Sydney Dirks, Western Carolina
 
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