William Penn Picked at Top of League’s Coaches’ Poll
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball team should expect quite a fight from league competition this spring as the Midwest Collegiate Conference preseason coaches’ poll was released Tuesday.
William Penn, which was 32-21 last year (12-8 MCC), has been chosen as one of the MCC’s best squads. The map to the top, however, will be dotted with tough matchups.
The Statesmen tied defending league tournament champion Grand View at the pinnacle of the preseason poll with 41 points each. WPU collected one first-place vote and the Vikings managed three.
St. Ambrose was also near the top with 37 points and one first-place vote, while Mount Mercy posted 34 points and the final two first-place votes.
Clarke (20 points) and Viterbo (14) were next, while first-year program AIB notched nine points to wrap up the standings.
William Penn is slated to begin its 2014 campaign on February 14 with a doubleheader against Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) in Rochester, Minn.
MCC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll–January 14, 2014
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Grand View–41 (3)
1. William Penn–41 (1)
3. St. Ambrose–37 (1)
4. Mount Mercy–34 (2)
5. Clarke–20
6. Viterbo–14
7. AIB–9