Coming off a record-breaking season, Siena softball head coach Bill Lajeunesse has signed six players and added two walk-ons for the 2016 season. Madysen Cossack, Loryn DeFalco, Sarah Ho, Jessika Jaime, Jazmin Ortiz, and Jess Vollmer have each signed their National Letters of Intent to join the Saints. Twin sisters Claire McNamara and Megan McNamara will join the team as walk-ons.

"We tried to mirror this incoming class with our recently graduated senior class which was the winningest in program history," said Lajeunesse. "We wanted to provide depth at all positions and add players who hit for power, average, who run well and are solid defenders at the positions they play."

A power hitting first baseman from Agoura Hills, Calif., Cossack played for Aguora Hills High School and played travel ball for the Bownet Gold 18U team. She was named her team's Offensive Player Of The Year three consecutive seasons, as well as being named First Team All-Marmonte League and a Scholar Athlete. Madysen had a career .373 average and had her best season in 2014 when she hit .413, including six home runs in 23 games played. She is a left-hander with good range and a strong arm.

"We are looking for Madysen to be a big threat in the middle of the lineup as a freshman," said Lajeunesse. "She should add power and run producing potential. We are also looking for her to fill the void of Paige Lloyd." Lloyd, who graduated in the spring, was a First Team All-MAAC selection and an ECAC Division I Softball Second Team All-Star.

DeFalco also hails from Agoura Hills, California. A utility player, she also played travel for the Bownet Gold 18U team. She recorded her best statistical season in 2015, amassing a .356 batting average, four home runs and 27 runs batted in. DeFalco finished her high school career with a .314 batting average, 82 hits and 58 runs batted in. She was a First-Team All-League selection in 2015, Second Team All League in 2013-14, Team MVP in 2014-15 and the Varsity captain for three years.

"We're looking for Loryn to step in and provide stability at a couple of different infield positions," said Lajeunesse. "She is a gap to gap hitter with a high on-base percentage who were looking for to be another run producer in the lineup."

Another Californian signee, Ho comes to Siena from Thousand Oaks. She played catcher at West Lake High School and also participated at the club level for SoCal Pumas Gold. In 102 career games, Ho batted .286, finished with 84 hits and 58 runs batted in. In addition to being named a Scholar Athlete for three years, Ho garnered First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention accolades from the Marmonte League.

"We are looking for Sarah to provide depth at the catching position," said Lajeunesse. "She is a scrappy player who is solid behind the plate. She has all the tools defensively to challenge for playing time at multiple positions. Sarah does a number of things well."

An infielder/outfielder from Las Mirada, Calif., Jaime played at the high school level as well as for the Case Bat Busters Gold team. Jaime has been playing softball since she was five years old. She is excited that she is able to play the sport she loves for the next four years. Jaime received the California Crest Award at graduation and was an honor roll member all four years of high school.

""I'm looking for her to push for playing time at a couple of different positions," said Lajeunesse. "She is a solid defensive player who possesses good range and a strong throwing arm. Offensively we are looking for her to be a table setter in the lineup."

Ortiz comes to Loudonville from Philadelphia where she played on the NJ Nightmare 18 Gold Team. After starting at shortstop on the varsity squad her freshman season, Ortiz went on to be a two-time Amateur Softball Association of Pennsylvania State Champion, a 2009 Amateur Softball Association of Illinois National Championship participant and a 2011 Premiere Girls Fastpitch National Championship participant in California. Jazmin's success on the field helped her garner All-Catholic League honors all four years of high school.

"We will be looking for Jazmin to push for a starting position in the infield," said Lajeunesse. She possesses great range and holds an incredible softball IQ. Offensively, we are looking for her to be a solid gap-to-gap hitter with a solid on base percentage."

Vollmer hails from Simi Valley, California where she played outfield for the SoCal Diamonds Gold team. In 98 career games, Vollmer batted .392 with 96 hits and 32 runs batted in. She achieved her best statistical season in 2014-15 when she recorded 37 hits, including three home runs. Over her career, Vollmer garnered Rookie and Offensive Player of the Year honors in addition to being named to the CIF First and Second Team. She was the Marmonte/Coastal Canyon League record holder in stolen bases three years in a row as well as the record holder for the most runs scored in the Coastal Canyon League.

"Jess should push for playing time right away in the outfield," said Lajeunesse. "She possesses speed, great range and a solid throwing arm. Offensively, she will provide speed to the lineup and looking for her to high average hitter who scores a number of runs."

Two walk-ons will also join the Saints roster. Twin sisters from Oceanside, N.Y., Claire and Meghan McNamara were key players in the Oceanside High School program and they helped the team reach the brink of the Nassau Class AA Title.

Claire was a three-time All County selection played for the Long Island Chargers Gold U18 team. She was an All-County Selection for basketball, All-Long Island for Softball and was named the Female-Athlete of the Year for Oceanside High School.

Megan was a two-time All-Conference Selection and a one-time selection of All-County. In addition to softball, she was a Third-Team All-State Selection in basketball as well as being named a Scholar Athlete.

The Softball Program finished tied for second in the MAAC in 2015. After a deep MAAC tournament run, Siena expects to compete for one of the top spots in the MAAC and the opportunity to compete for the MAAC title.