Six of the 2026 spring preseason polls for the USA South Athletic Conference have been released as the seasons are scheduled to start this coming week.
Men's Lacrosse
Pfeiffer received eight first-place votes in the 2026 preseason poll for men's lacrosse.
The Falcons, coached by Tucker Nelson, sit atop the poll with 64 points, 12 more than second place Piedmont (52) and 14 more than third place Methodist, who received the other first-place vote.
This season's poll marks the fifth time Pfeiffer has been picked first in the seven-year history of the sport in the USA South Conference. In those seven years, the team picked first has won the conference title five times.
In six seasons in the USA South, the Falcons have a 43-5 overall record and the best conference win percentage (89.6 percent) among the other teams in the conference.
Pfeiffer has an active 19-game conference win streak entering this season, having won the regular-season and tournament titles in 2021 and 2023 to 2025.
The Falcons open the season on the road Feb. 8 at Rhodes, then play at Montreat two days later. Pfeiffer's home opener is scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 14 versus Hampden-Sydney. Pfeiffer and Hampden-Sydney received one and two votes, respectively, in the USILA 2026 preseason poll.
Softball
The Falcons, winners of the last four USA South regular-season titles, along with three straight conference tourney titles, received nine out of a possible 10 votes in finishing first in the 2026 preseason poll.
Receiving 81 points in the poll, the Falcons topped N.C. Wesleyan by 13 points, with Meredith receiving one first-place vote in third place with 64.
The Falcons have been under the leadership of head coach Monty Sherrill '87, who has been at the helm for the Falcons for 10 seasons.
In the program's six seasons in the USA South, the Falcons have the highest winning percentage at 85 percent (85-15) and are third all-time in conference regular season titles (5) and tournament titles (3).
Pfeiffer opens the season with a doubleheader at Piedmont Feb. 27. The Falcons's home opener is scheduled for Mar 4.
Baseball
The Falcons, coached by Craig Bolton, were picked to finish fifth out of the eight teams in the USA South, two points behind Brevard in the poll with 27 points.
Greensboro topped the poll by one poll point over Methodist, with both teams receiving four first-place votes.
Pfeiffer has the third-best conference win percentage in its seven years in the USA South (72-56, 56.3 percent) behind Methodist and N.C. Wesleyan.
The baseball season is scheduled to begin Feb. 14 and 15 with the Joe Ferebee Classic at Pfeiffer's Joe Ferebee Field. Pfeiffer will face Grove City Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. and play a doubleheader against Maryville at 2:30 p.m. and Hampden-Sydney Feb. 15.
Women's Lacrosse
Pfeiffer was picked to finish seventh out of the 10 teams in the USA South Conference, one point behind sixth-place Huntingdon.
The Falcons, under the direction of second-year head coach Julia Barbato, have the sixth-best winning percentage in the program's seven years in the conference at 50.9 percent (28-27).
Pfeiffer will start the season Feb. 11 at Montreat, with the home opener set for Feb. 14 versus Guilford.
Men's Tennis
The Falcons were ranked third n the 2026 preseason poll after picking up a pair of wins in the fall tennis season.
Pfeiffer, coached by Justin Fainter, finished with 18 points in the poll, two points behind second place Methodist, who received one first-place vote, and top finisher N.C. Wesleyan, who received 25 points and five first-place picks.
The Falcons open the spring season at home Feb. 14 versus Virginia Wesleyan.
Women's Tennis
The Falcons were selected to finish second in the six-team USA South Conference, receiving one first-place vote.
Pfeiffer finished with a poll point total of 20, three behind N.C. Wesleyan, who received four first-place votes. Southern Virginia received one first-place vote and finished third in the poll with 18 points.
Pfeiffer enters the spring tennis season after earning four wins in the fall without losing a singles or doubles matchup in those matches.
The women's tennis season for the Falcons is slated to start Feb. 19 at Bridgewater. Pfeiffer's first home game will be Feb. 22 versus Piedmont.
