JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced the Softball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday.
Marist was picked as the preseason favorite to win the 2015 MAAC Softball Championship. The Red Foxes received 113 total points, including five first place votes.
Defending champion Iona is tabbed to finish second with 108 points and four first place votes. Monmouth was selected third with 86 points, followed by Manhattan (82) and Siena (80) to round out the top five.
Fairfield fell just shy of a top five selection, picking up 79 total points. Finishing in seventh is Quinnipiac with 49 points, followed by Canisius (48), Niagara (34), Rider (28) and Saint Peter's (19) to round out the 11-team ballot.
Saint Peter's finished 10-42 overall and 4-16 in MAAC play in head coach Ken Passante's first season in Jersey City.
The Peacocks return nine players from a season ago, including Nicole Olmedo (Chino, Calif. / Chino), who was among the conference leaders in batting average (.362), hits (50) and slugging percentage (.572).
Saint Peter's opens the 2015 season on Mar. 6, when the team travels to Maryland to compete in the Tiger Clash hosted by Towson. Saint Peter's opening contest in the tournament is Brown University.
