BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Frostburg State and Charleston have been voted preseason favorites in the 2024 Mountain East Conference Preseason Softball Poll, the league announced following a vote of the league's head coaches.
Following a close vote in the north division, Frostburg State was voted preseason favorite with 43 points and four first-place votes. The Bobcats are coming off a 31-22 campaign in 2023, which included an 18-14 mark in league play. Frostburg State will be led by a trio of All-MEC standouts from a season ago, including pitcher/infielder Jamie Roberts, outfielder Arden Miller and pitcher Sydney Theobald.
Fairmont State, the 2023 north division champions, finished second in preseason voting with 41 points and also had four first-place votes. The Falcons went 33-23 (21-11 MEC) a season ago and return three first team All-MEC selections this season in infielder Emily Riggs, catcher Peyton Weatherholt and outfielder Hannah Workman. Notre Dame was voted third in the north with 39 points and the remaining three first-place votes. NDC will be led by second team All-MEC pitcher Grace Fisher in the circle this season.
West Liberty was voted fourth in the north with 23 points, followed by Wheeling (14) to round out the poll.
In the South, Charleston is picked to repeat as champions after a 45-12 campaign a season ago, which included a trip to the NCAA Super Regional at East Stroudsburg. UC was a unanimous pick to win the south in 2024 with 10 first-place votes and 60 points during balloting. This season, UC returns All-Americans Hannah Rose (SS) and Isabella Andujar (C), along with All-MEC selections Brianna McCown (P) and Raegan West (OF).
West Virginia Wesleyan was voted second in the south division with 48 points. The Bobcats return the 2023 MEC Pitcher of the Year Kendall Stoffel and first team All-MEC utility player Andie Dizon this season. Davis & Elkins received the final first-place vote and finished third in the south division voting with 44 points. The Senators will be led this season by returning All-MEC first baseman
Linzey Allard and standout pitchers
Saylor Kneeland and
Vanessa Hunt.
Glenville State was voted fourth in the south with 34 points, followed by West Virginia State (21) and Concord (18).
Davis & Elkins is coming off a historical season that saw them finish as runner-up in the MEC Softball Tournament and earned a NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in school history.
2024 Mountain East Conference Softball Preseason Poll
NORTH DIVISION
1. Frostburg State (4) – 43
2. Fairmont State (4) – 41
3. Notre Dame (3) – 39
4. West Liberty – 23
5. Wheeling – 14
SOUTH DIVISION
1. Charleston (10) – 60
2. West Virginia Wesleyan – 48
3. Davis & Elkins (1) – 44
4. Glenville State – 34
5. West Virginia State – 21
6. Concord – 18
( ) – First-place votes
* Coaches unable to vote for own team
