Jan. 19, 2011

Charlotte, the 2010 regular-season conference champion, is the pick in the 2011 Atlantic 10 preseason poll in voting by the league’s head coaches, as released by the conference office.

The 49ers, under head coach Loren Hibbs, received 10 first-place votes. Charlotte has earned a share of the regular-season conference title in three of the past four years. The 49ers return 21 letter-winners, including six position starters and their three weekend starting pitchers.

Xavier earned one first-place vote and placed second. The Musketeers bring back 26 letter-winners, with four position starters and nine pitchers.

Dayton was third in the preseason poll, while fourth-place Saint Louis, the defending champion, and fifth-place Rhode Island each received one first-place vote.

The 2011 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 18. The six-team, double-elimination Atlantic 10 Championship will be played May 25-28 at Campbell’s Field in Camden, N.J.

Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll

Team (First Place Votes) (2010 Atlantic 10, Overall Records)

1 Charlotte (10) (20-7, 39-17)

2 Xavier (1) (18-9, 26-32)

3 Dayton (12-15, 23-32)

4 Saint Louis (1) (15-12, 33-29)

5 Rhode Island (1) (17-10, 31-26)

6 Richmond (10-17, 24-28)

7 Fordham (15-12, 21-35)

8 George Washington (14-13, 26-28)

9 La Salle (14-13, 22-32)

10 Massachusetts (13-14, 18-29)

11 Saint Joseph’s (13-14, 18-29)

12 St. Bonaventure (8-19, 17-31)

13 Temple (10-17, 14-37)