Feb. 21, 2002

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.-The Siena softball will begin the season on March 23, with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference coaches picking them seventh. Senior Jodie Fiacco was named to the preseason team.

Saint Peter's College, which captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference softball championship last season, has been picked to win the conference crown this year in the preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches.

Rider's Deanna Dovak (Oakdale, NY) has been selected as the 2002 Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, Dovak was named the MAAC Player of the Year after leading the league in batting average (.436), home runs (21) and RBI (55), and finished second in the conference in doubles (17). She was also named to the third team All-America softball team after leading the nation in home runs per game (0.38), and ranked 11th in batting average and 13th in the nation in RBI per game.

Seven of the MAAC's nine schools are represented on the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Joining Dovak in the outfield is Canisius' Amy Dodd (Conklin, NY) and Fairfield's Ellen Sarosy (Howard Beach, NY). The infield includes Saint Peter's Marsha Kelley (Mickleton, NJ) as catcher, and Canisius' Jill Iacono (Williamsville, NY) at first base. Canisius's Diana Calandra (Amherst, NY) and Fairfield's Karyn Kennedy (Staten Island) were both named to second base, along with Niagara's Brooke Bradburn (Brampton, Ontario) at shortstop and Saint Peter's Aimee Barsalona (Lincroft, NJ) at third base. Siena's Jodie Fiacco (Endicott, NY) is the designated player and Marist's Bobbi Jo Gonnello (Clifton, NJ) is the utility player. Fairfield's Mellissa Santos (Pepperell, MA) was chosen as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

2002 MAAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

2002 MAAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON TEAM

2002 Preseason Player of the Year: Deanna Dovak, Rider