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Three Blue Devils Named to Preseason All-ACC Team
1/22/2026 3:38:00 PM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke seniors D'Auna Jennings and Aminah Vega and redshirt junior Kairi Rodriguez were named to the 14-member Preseason All-ACC Softball Team, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
Florida State leads the conference with five representatives on the team, followed by Duke with three, Stanford and Virginia each with two and Clemson and North Carolina with one apiece.
The Preseason All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of 14 players. Each ballot was comprised of five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, a catcher and either a designated player or utility player.
Five ACC softball teams are ranked among the top 25 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll. Florida State leads the group at No. 7 with No. 12 Clemson, No. 17 Stanford, No. 19 Duke and No. 21 Virginia Tech joining the rankings.
Head coach Marissa Young returns 12 letterwinners from last year's team that complied a 41-18 overall record and earned the program's fifth consecutive bid to the NCAA Softball Championship. The Blue Devils also welcome 10 newcomers in transfers Layla Lamar (Florida), Larissa Jacquez (UIW), Tyrina Jones (Purdue) and Mallory Wheeler (Louisiana) and freshmen London Collins, Brookelyn Grayson, Ariel Krueger, Adelyn Matthews, Gabriella Shadek and Jayla Stafford.
Duke opens the season in the Sunshine State, traveling to Orlando, Florida, Feb. 6-8 to compete in the UCF Invitational alongside Boston University, Buffalo, CSU Bakersfield and UCF.
Season tickets are available to purchase here. Single game tickets will go on sale Jan. 29 at 10 a.m.
2026 Softball Preseason All-ACC Team
Aminah Vega, Duke, INF
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State, INF
Isa Torres, Florida State, INF
Jade Hylton, Virginia, INF
River Mahler, Stanford, INF
D'Auna Jennings, Duke, OF
Kennedy Harp, Florida State, OF
Sanaa Thompson, North Carolina, OF
Emily Jones, Stanford, OF
Ashtyn Danley, Florida State, P
Jazzy Francik, Florida State, P
Eden Bigham, Virginia, P
Kairi Rodriguez, Duke, C
Macey Cintron, Clemson, DP/UTL
Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Florida State – 179 (12 first-place votes)
2. Clemson – 173 (1 first-place vote)
3. Stanford – 170 (2 first-place votes)
4. Virginia Tech – 160
5. Duke – 151
6. Virginia – 133
7. North Carolina – 120
8. Georgia Tech – 101
9. California – 88
10. Louisville – 83
11. Notre Dame – 66
12. NC State – 59
13. Pitt – 37
14. Syracuse – 36
15. Boston College – 19
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
#GoDuke
Florida State leads the conference with five representatives on the team, followed by Duke with three, Stanford and Virginia each with two and Clemson and North Carolina with one apiece.
The Preseason All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of 14 players. Each ballot was comprised of five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, a catcher and either a designated player or utility player.
Five ACC softball teams are ranked among the top 25 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll. Florida State leads the group at No. 7 with No. 12 Clemson, No. 17 Stanford, No. 19 Duke and No. 21 Virginia Tech joining the rankings.
Head coach Marissa Young returns 12 letterwinners from last year's team that complied a 41-18 overall record and earned the program's fifth consecutive bid to the NCAA Softball Championship. The Blue Devils also welcome 10 newcomers in transfers Layla Lamar (Florida), Larissa Jacquez (UIW), Tyrina Jones (Purdue) and Mallory Wheeler (Louisiana) and freshmen London Collins, Brookelyn Grayson, Ariel Krueger, Adelyn Matthews, Gabriella Shadek and Jayla Stafford.
Duke opens the season in the Sunshine State, traveling to Orlando, Florida, Feb. 6-8 to compete in the UCF Invitational alongside Boston University, Buffalo, CSU Bakersfield and UCF.
Season tickets are available to purchase here. Single game tickets will go on sale Jan. 29 at 10 a.m.
2026 Softball Preseason All-ACC Team
Aminah Vega, Duke, INF
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State, INF
Isa Torres, Florida State, INF
Jade Hylton, Virginia, INF
River Mahler, Stanford, INF
D'Auna Jennings, Duke, OF
Kennedy Harp, Florida State, OF
Sanaa Thompson, North Carolina, OF
Emily Jones, Stanford, OF
Ashtyn Danley, Florida State, P
Jazzy Francik, Florida State, P
Eden Bigham, Virginia, P
Kairi Rodriguez, Duke, C
Macey Cintron, Clemson, DP/UTL
Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Florida State – 179 (12 first-place votes)
2. Clemson – 173 (1 first-place vote)
3. Stanford – 170 (2 first-place votes)
4. Virginia Tech – 160
5. Duke – 151
6. Virginia – 133
7. North Carolina – 120
8. Georgia Tech – 101
9. California – 88
10. Louisville – 83
11. Notre Dame – 66
12. NC State – 59
13. Pitt – 37
14. Syracuse – 36
15. Boston College – 19
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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INF
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UTL
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C/OF
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C
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P
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