University of Massachusets Athletics
Softball Picked To Defend Atlantic 10 In Preseason Poll
January 30, 2019 | Softball
The defending regular season champs were picked first by the coaches with 99 points and nine first-place votes.
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts softball team was picked first in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches with 99 points and nine of ten first-place votes. The defending A-10 regular season champions return eight positional starters from a team that went a perfect 21-0 during the league's regular season while becoming the 10th team in A-10 history to complete a perfect conference season.
The Minutewomen also return five Atlantic 10 First-Team All-Conference selections, including Pitcher of the Year Kiara Oliver, who finished her freshman season with a perfect 11-0 mark in league play with a 0.77 ERA on her way to leading the A-10 in wins (18) and strikeouts (173). Fellow first-team selections in seniors Melissa Garcia, Kaitlyn Stavinoha and Erin Stacevicz along with second-team pick Kaycee Carbone return to lead a UMass offense that outscored league opponents 146-34 during the regular season.
Offensively in 2018, UMass posted a .317 team batting average while scoring 290 runs, an increase of 102 from the 2017 season. The Minutewomen finished the year with the fourth-best on-base percentage in the nation at .410 and 11th in team batting average nationally.
Dayton and Fordham each received 80 points in the poll to rank second and third while Saint Louis and George Washington round out the top-five picks as chosen by the coaches.
UMass opens its 2019 season with a six-game weekend at the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom in Orlando, Fla. and will begin its conference slate on March. 23-24 at Sortino Field against St. Bonaventure.
Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Massachusetts – 99 (9)
2. Dayton – 80
2. Fordham – 80
4. Saint Louis – 66
5. George Washington – 57 (1)
6. George Mason – 57
7. Saint Joseph's – 49
8. Rhode Island – 27
9. La Salle – 21
10. St. Bonaventure - 14
For complete coverage of the UMass softball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassSoftball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
The Minutewomen also return five Atlantic 10 First-Team All-Conference selections, including Pitcher of the Year Kiara Oliver, who finished her freshman season with a perfect 11-0 mark in league play with a 0.77 ERA on her way to leading the A-10 in wins (18) and strikeouts (173). Fellow first-team selections in seniors Melissa Garcia, Kaitlyn Stavinoha and Erin Stacevicz along with second-team pick Kaycee Carbone return to lead a UMass offense that outscored league opponents 146-34 during the regular season.
Offensively in 2018, UMass posted a .317 team batting average while scoring 290 runs, an increase of 102 from the 2017 season. The Minutewomen finished the year with the fourth-best on-base percentage in the nation at .410 and 11th in team batting average nationally.
Dayton and Fordham each received 80 points in the poll to rank second and third while Saint Louis and George Washington round out the top-five picks as chosen by the coaches.
UMass opens its 2019 season with a six-game weekend at the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom in Orlando, Fla. and will begin its conference slate on March. 23-24 at Sortino Field against St. Bonaventure.
Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Massachusetts – 99 (9)
2. Dayton – 80
2. Fordham – 80
4. Saint Louis – 66
5. George Washington – 57 (1)
6. George Mason – 57
7. Saint Joseph's – 49
8. Rhode Island – 27
9. La Salle – 21
10. St. Bonaventure - 14
For complete coverage of the UMass softball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassSoftball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
Players Mentioned
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