William Penn Athletics News February 3
William Penn Women's Athletics
Softball Team Expected to Regain League Supremacy
Oskaloosa–The Lady Statesmen softball team will enter this spring as the favorite for the league crown as the Midwest Collegiate Conference Softball Preseason Poll was released Tuesday.
Penn, who was 44-13 last year (16-6 MCC, 2nd), is projected first in the league with 68 points. The program is unofficially ranked 30th in the NAIA’s preseason rating.
The league’s coaches tabbed the next three schools within three points of each other. Grand View came in a distant second with 55 points, followed by Waldorf with 54 points and Mount Mercy with 52 points.
Iowa Wesleyan is in the middle of the pack with 37 points, while St. Ambrose (33 points), Clarke (28 points), Ashford (16 points), and Viterbo (12 points) round out the poll.
The Lady Statesmen open the 2011 season next Friday and Saturday by traveling to Ridgeland, Miss. for the Belhaven Sweet 16 Tournament.
MCC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll–February 1, 2011
1. William Penn – 68 points
2. Grand View – 55 points
3. Waldorf – 54 points
4. Mount Mercy – 52 points
5. Iowa Wesleyan – 37 points
6. St. Ambrose – 33 points
7. Clarke – 28 points
8. Ashford – 16 points
9. Viterbo – 12 points
Statesmen Picked Fourth in Coaches Poll
Oskaloosa–The Penn baseball team is picked to be one of the league’s contenders in 2011 as the Midwest Collegiate Conference Baseball Preseason Poll was released Tuesday.
The Statesmen, who were 25-19 last year (14-10 MCC, 4th), are projected fourth in the conference with 53 points and are just one point behind third-place Viterbo.
Defending MCC Tournament champion Grand View leads the way with 64 points and five first-place votes, followed immediately by Iowa Wesleyan with 63 points and three first place votes.
St. Ambrose (42 points, one first place vote), Mount Mercy (33 points), Waldorf (24 points), Ashford (18 points), and Clarke (17 points) round out the poll.
Penn opens the 2011 slate on February 17-18 by traveling to Wichita, Kan. to face Friends and Morningside.
