RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech has been predicted to finish seventh in the 2022 Preseason Conference USA Coaches Poll released by the league office on Tuesday.
 
The Lady Techsters finished seventh last season and return 16 letterwinners and six starters from a team that finished 22-30 overall.
 
Head coach Josh Taylor was hired in June and takes over a program that is just a few short years removed from winning both the 2017 and 2019 Conference USA titles.
              
Charlotte has been voted by the league's head coaches as the preseason favorite. Bailey Vannoy, a senior catcher and outfielder for Charlotte was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year, while fifth-year right-hander, Shelby Nunn, out of WKU, was named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Sixteen student-athletes were also named to the preseason all-conference team.
 
Charlotte, North Texas, WKU, UAB, Marshall and Middle Tennessee were voted to finish one through six while LA Tech, FIU, Southern Miss, UTSA, UTEP and Florida Atlantic were picked seventh through 12^th.
 
The Lady Techsters open the 2022 season Friday when they face Morehead State (12:30 p.m.) and SIU-Edwardsville (3 p.m.) in the Best on the Bayou Tournament hosted by ULM at the Ouachita Sports Complex.
 
Tech will also face SFA (Saturday at 3 p.m.) and Southern (Sunday at 11:15 a.m.) and Mississippi Valley State (Sunday at 1:30 p.m.). Tickets for the weekend will be $10 per day or $25 for the entire weekend.
 
The Lady Techsters will open the home portion of its schedule Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. against Northwestern State.
 
 
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH       
Charlotte 
North Texas
WKU 
UAB
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
LA Tech
FIU
Southern Miss
UTSA
UTEP
Florida Atlantic