Emma Dargy and the Omaha softball team open the 2018 season at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic in Starkville, Miss. next week.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Omaha Selected Fifth in Summit League Preseason Poll
Feb 1, 2018 | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha softball team has been picked fifth in the 2017 Summit League Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference office announced Thursday.
Defending league tournament champion North Dakota State was tabbed the league favorite and received all five of its possible first-place votes for 25 total points. Western Illinois came in second with 20 points, and South Dakota was third with 17 points and one first-place vote. South Dakota State garnered 14 points for fourth, Omaha (nine) followed in fifth and Fort Wayne (five) rounded it out in sixth.
Senior outfielder Jessica Nelson was also included on the Summit League's Players to Watch list. Nelson joined the Mavericks in January after transferring from St. Gregory's University. Last season, she earned Second Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors while batting .308 with six doubles, six triples and 31 runs scored in 42 games.
Guided by second-year head coach DJ Sanchez, Omaha returns six letterwinners in 2018, including four position players with starting experience and a starting pitcher. The Mavericks finished with a record of 15-30 (6-8 Summit League) for fifth in the league standings last season.
Omaha opens the 2018 season on Friday, Feb. 9, facing Missouri State and Mississippi State in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic in Starkville, Miss.
2018 Summit League Softball Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points 2017 Record
1. North Dakota State (5) 25 29-33 (11-7)
2. Western Illinois 20 22-32 (11-7)
3. South Dakota (1) 17 22-32 (10-8)
4. South Dakota State 14 19-35 (6-12)
5. Omaha 9 15-30 (6-8)
6. Fort Wayne 5 12-36 (4-11)
2018 Summit League Players to Watch
Ali Herdliska, South Dakota State – IF, Jr.
Emily Ira, Western Illinois – P/OF, Jr.
Kelsey Marlow, Western Illinois – IF, Sr.
Jessica Nelson, Omaha – OF, Sr.
Jacquelyn Sertic, North Dakota State – P, Sr.
Lauren Watson, Fort Wayne – IF, Jr.
Emily Winckler, South Dakota – IF, Sr.
Defending league tournament champion North Dakota State was tabbed the league favorite and received all five of its possible first-place votes for 25 total points. Western Illinois came in second with 20 points, and South Dakota was third with 17 points and one first-place vote. South Dakota State garnered 14 points for fourth, Omaha (nine) followed in fifth and Fort Wayne (five) rounded it out in sixth.
Senior outfielder Jessica Nelson was also included on the Summit League's Players to Watch list. Nelson joined the Mavericks in January after transferring from St. Gregory's University. Last season, she earned Second Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors while batting .308 with six doubles, six triples and 31 runs scored in 42 games.
Guided by second-year head coach DJ Sanchez, Omaha returns six letterwinners in 2018, including four position players with starting experience and a starting pitcher. The Mavericks finished with a record of 15-30 (6-8 Summit League) for fifth in the league standings last season.
Omaha opens the 2018 season on Friday, Feb. 9, facing Missouri State and Mississippi State in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic in Starkville, Miss.
2018 Summit League Softball Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points 2017 Record
1. North Dakota State (5) 25 29-33 (11-7)
2. Western Illinois 20 22-32 (11-7)
3. South Dakota (1) 17 22-32 (10-8)
4. South Dakota State 14 19-35 (6-12)
5. Omaha 9 15-30 (6-8)
6. Fort Wayne 5 12-36 (4-11)
2018 Summit League Players to Watch
Ali Herdliska, South Dakota State – IF, Jr.
Emily Ira, Western Illinois – P/OF, Jr.
Kelsey Marlow, Western Illinois – IF, Sr.
Jessica Nelson, Omaha – OF, Sr.
Jacquelyn Sertic, North Dakota State – P, Sr.
Lauren Watson, Fort Wayne – IF, Jr.
Emily Winckler, South Dakota – IF, Sr.
Players Mentioned
OF
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