MAAC Preseason Poll

The Siena Softball team was selected to finish seventh in the MAAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference Monday morning.

The 2016 version of the Saints roster features four seniors and sophomore Paige Hess, an All-Rookie Team selection from a year ago. Hess is the top returner in both batting average (.342) and hits (53) and ranked third on the 2015 squad in RBI's (28).

Siena's pitching staff is bolstered by sophomore Lauren Butts, who finished 10-10 while posting a 3.49 earned run average and 127 strikeouts, all categories in which she was tied for the team lead or led the team. She logged 132.1 innings in 2015, ranking second on the team.

Defending tournament champions Fairfield was picked to finish first with 109 points, followed by Canisius (92), Manhattan (91), Iona (85) and Marist (80) to round out the top five. Monmouth (79), Siena (75), Quinnipiac (42), Rider (29) were picked sixth through ninth respectively while Niagara (25) and Saint Peter's (19) round out the 2016 poll. For the complete preseason poll and preseason All-MAAC team, click the link at the top of the page.

The Saints finished 21-27-1 including a 13-7 mark in the MAAC, tied for the most wins in MAAC wins in program history. Siena won two games in the MAAC tournament for the first time in program history, defeating Iona and Manhattan before falling to eventual champion Fairfield 7-3.

Siena opens their season Friday February 19th in the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational against George Mason at 11 a.m.