Orange Softball Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The SU softball team was tabbed fifth in the annual BIG EAST Conference preseason softball rankings, released on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The preseason poll was conducted among the league’s 12 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams. It was the second consecutive year the Orange was picked to finish fifth in the preseason.

Syracuse garnered 78 points in the vote after placing third last season and setting the school record for victories with a 28-22 overall record. The Orange finished 11-7 in league play in 2005 and won its first-ever postseason game with a 5-1 triumph against Villanova in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship.

Conference newcomer De Paul was selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference title earning 115 points. The Blue Demons accumulated eight of the 12 first-place votes. Last year’s conference regular-season champion Notre Dame (108 points) and USF (102) each picked up two first-place votes and were tabbed second and third, respectively. It was the first time in five seasons that the Fighting Irish weren’t picked to claim the league crown.

Louisville (95 points) was picked fourth, followed by Syracuse, Seton Hall (68 points), Villanova (65 points) and Pittsburgh (47 points). St. John’s (38 points) and Connecticut (37 points) claimed the ninth and 10^th positions, respectively. Providence (28 points) and Rutgers (11) rounded out the preseason rankings.

The Orange returns four starters from 2005 and will begin play with five games at the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz. from Feb. 10-12.

Syracuse University Athletics

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