Ball State University Athletics
Softball Earns Votes, Leads Mid-American Conference, in Preseason Poll
February 01, 2010 | Softball
To view the poll, click HERE.
Ball State finds two of its 2010 opponents in the top 20 with Missouri and Northwestern ranked No. 9 and No. 17, respectively. The Cardinals face both teams in the Missouri Tournament, March 19-21 in Columbia, Mo.
Western Michigan was the only other MAC school to receive votes in the poll, with one, and it begins the season at No. 43 along with New Mexico State and Virginia Tech. Ball State split last season's series with the Broncos, losing the first game 5-4 in eight innings and winning the second 10-2.
Returning 11 players, including 2009 MAC Pitcher of the Year, Elizabeth Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich.), and 2009 MAC Player of the Year, Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Ball State head coach Craig Nicholson is optimistic about the 2010 season.
"I can point to two great things about this year's team - we have a lot of depth and we have a lot of experience," Nicholson, the 2009 MAC Coach of the Year, said. "Both will pay dividends as we go through this season."
Other returners with MAC accolades include Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Lisa Rozanski (Tampa, Fla.) who joined Barkley and Milian as All-MAC First Team selections. Additionally, Alyssa Collins (Fortville, Ind.), named to the All-MAC Second Team and MAC All-Tournament Team, and Jen Reifschneider (Wichita, Kan.), who notched 11 homeruns and was named to the USF All-Tournament Team, return to the Cardinal lineup.
The Cardinals also welcome nine newcomers to the roster, including transfers Jessie Ware (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Meredith Nash (Peculiar, Mo.) from No. 7 Arizona State and No. 9 Missouri, respectively.
Looking to improve on their 29-24 overall record, the Cardinals begin 2010 play Feb. 19-21 in the Phyliss Rafter Memorial Tournament in Kennesaw, Ga. Here they will face Tennessee Tech, Western Illinois, Mercer, Kennesaw State and Southern Illinois.
