Husson and SUNY Poly claim top spots in NAC softball preseason poll
WATERVILLE, Maine – 2023 North Atlantic Conference champions Husson University was tabbed to repeat atop the East Division standings while SUNY Poly, who made a run in the 2023 NAC Tournament, was picked to win the West Division in 2024, in preseason voting among the conference’s head coaches.
The Husson Eagles received 47 points and six first-place votes to lead the charge in the East Division poll. Husson enters the 2024 season under the helm of new interim head coach Rick Roberts, who has served as an assistant coach for Husson since 2019. Returning to the field for the Eagles are 2023 NAC East First Team All-Conference honorees Katie Raymond (OF), Kenzie Dore (INF), and Bulla McCabe (C/INF). Danielle Masterson and Emily Rerick return to the pitching circle for the Eagles.
Competing in their first season in the NAC, Eastern Nazarene College placed second in the East Division Poll with 38 points. The Lions were crowned New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) champions in 2023 and return NFCA All-Region and All-NECC Alexys Giddings (INF) and All-NECC Bailey Olaveson (INF). Thomas College rounds out the top three spots in the East poll with 37 points and one first-place vote. Coming back to the diamond this spring for the Terriers are NAC East First-Team honorees Maddie Rock (INF) and Megan Oberholzer (P/INF). Vermont State University Lyndon (22 points) came in fourth place while UMaine-Presque Isle and UMaine-Farmington tied for fifth place with 21 points. Lesley University completed the poll with 10 points.
In the West Division, SUNY Poly earned five first-place votes, acquiring 35 points to receive the top spot in the poll. Under the leadership of Head Coach Juleah Wanner, Poly finished first in the West Division standings last spring and returns 2023 NAC West First Team honorees Trinity Critelli (P) and Kimberly Birmingham (INF). Representing the Wildcats this season is 2023 NAC Rookie of the Year and West First Team honoree Alivia Turk. Turk is a transfer student from Cazenovia College who competed in the 2023 NAC Championship game.
SUNY Cobleskill placed second in the West Division poll receiving 31 points and one first-place vote. The Fighting Tigers return 2023 All-Conference Team representatives Alexis Miranda (1B/OF), Mackenzie Wendelken (C/U), and Emily Lutz (C/U). SUNY Delhi completes the top three spots in the West poll with 22 points, as the team returns 2023 All-Conference honorees Danielle Seymour (P/OF) and Kayla Beers (OF). SUNY Morrisville (17 points) placed fourth in the poll and welcomes new head coach Chris Comino who coached Cazenovia College to a second-place finish in the NAC championship game last spring. SUNY Canton (13 points) and Vermont State University Johnson (8 points) rounded out the poll in fifth and sixth place respectively.
Nonconference play kicks off this week and the first NAC matchups are scheduled for March 29 in the East and April 5 in the West.
Complete 2024 NAC Softball Preseason Poll results are below:
| 2024 NAC EAST SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL |
POLL
RANK |
TEAM |
POINTS
(FIRST PLACE VOTES) |
2023 OVERALL/CONF. RECORD |
| 1. |
Husson University |
47 pts. (6) |
30-14 / 10-0 NAC EAST |
| 2. |
Eastern Nazarene College |
38 pts. |
22-21 / 9-3 NECC |
| 3. |
Thomas College |
37 pts. (1) |
16-15 / 7-3 NAC EAST |
| 4. |
VTSU Lyndon |
22 pts. |
10-17 / 4-6 NAC EAST |
| T-5 |
UMaine-Farmington |
21 pts. |
6-21 / 4-6 NAC EAST |
| T-5 |
UMaine-Presque Isle |
21 pts. |
12-23 / 5-5 NAC EAST |
| 7. |
Lesley University |
10 pts. |
3-37 / 0-13 NECC |
| 2024 NAC WEST SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL |
POLL
RANK |
TEAM |
POINTS
(FIRST PLACE VOTES) |
2023 OVERALL/CONF. RECORD |
| 1. |
SUNY Poly |
35 pts. (5) |
21-7 / 11-1 NAC WEST |
| 2. |
SUNY Cobleskill |
31 pts. (1) |
11-25 / 6-6 NAC WEST |
| 3. |
SUNY Delhi |
22 pts. |
6-31 / 2-9 NAC WEST |
| 4. |
SUNY Morrisville |
17 pts. |
Did not sponosor in 2023 |
| 5. |
SUNY Canton |
13 pts. |
2-26 / 0-11 NAC WEST |
| 6. |
VTSU Johnson |
8 pts. |
4-20 / 0-10 NAC EAST |