BENNINGTON, Vt. — The results of the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) preseason coaches poll were released by the league Wednesday with Southern Vermont College being voted to finish seventh in the Conference this season.
The Mountaineers look to get back to the NECC playoffs after making their first postseason appearance last year with a 9-9 record in league play; their 11-20 overall mark set the program record for the most wins in the team's 28-year history.
Second year head coach Alyssa Davis expects her 2015 squad to make it back to the Conference tournament and improve upon their result from last year which saw SVC fall 3-2 to Mitchell College in the first round elimination game. "I am very excited for the upcoming season," commented the skipper. "We return our core from last year's team, as well as some key leaders and experience in our seniors. Everyone has been working hard to build from what we did last season and to continue to progress."
Among those returning to play for Davis are five seniors and her junior captain. Senior captain Erika Garay (Walnut, California), an All-NECC Second Team selection last year, will help roam center field for the Mountaineers while senior Emily Fleming (Saratoga Springs, New York), an All-NECC Honorable Mention, looks to be the SVC ace from the circle. Garay recorded a .957 fielding percentage in 2014, committing only two errors on 47 total chances while notching two assists from the outfield; she also had 25 hits and 15 runs for Southern Vermont, stealing three bases and knocking in three runs. Fleming's junior season in 2014 was one of her best as a Mountaineer, leading the team with a .387 batting average to go with an NECC-high six home runs; she added five wins from the rubber, tying the team's single season record, while being named the NECC Player of the Week once during the year.
Additional returners include junior captain Rachel Robtoy (Baltic, Connecticut), who will bring her seasoned second baseman play, and senior first baseman Shelby Jones (Hoosick Falls, New York) who will once again provide a big bat in the heart of the Mountaineer lineup. Robtoy committed only three errors on 63 chances for a .952 fielding percentage while being efficient at the plate with 21 hits, five being doubles and another two being homers; she knocked in 13 runs and scored 20 more for SVC while registering a .333 on-base percentage. Jones hit three doubles and two home runs last season, adding six walks and three stolen bases to her line; she also had only three errors in 159 total chances between first and catcher, throwing out five runners attempting to steal.
Southern Vermont begins the 2015 season with its annual visit to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, starting its eight-game spring trip on March 16. The Mountaineers then return to the Northeast for their NECC opener at Becker College on March 28, and SVC's home opener is slated to follow on March 29 against Bay Path University. Additional non-conference matchups include doubleheaders at Williams College (April 8), the College of St. Joseph- Vermont (April 16), and Pine Manor College (April 21).
Lesley University scored an 87 of a possible 90 points to capture the top spot in the preseason poll. The Lynx were named the number one team on six-of-nine coaches' ballots and second on the three others. Lesley is the six-time defending NECC Champion, having finished 17-1 in Conference play a year ago. The Lynx were 21-15 overall and defeated Mitchell 4-2 in the 2014 NECC Championship game.
Elms College was picked as the second-place finisher with 71 points. The Blazers had a 10-8 record in the NECC, finishing 12-16 overall. Elms received a pair of picks for first, second, third, and fifth and a single vote for sixth. Newbury College edged Mitchell for the third spot. The Nighthawks earned 67 points on a first-place ballot, two thirds, five fourths, and a fifth-place. Mitchell was selected five times for third, twice for fourth place, with one vote for both fifth and eighth-place.
2015 NECC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
- Lesley University (87 points, 6 first-place votes)
- Elms College (71 points, 2 first-place votes)
- Newbury College (67 points, 1 first-place vote)
- Mitchell College (63 points)
- Becker College (58 points)
- Regis College (49 points)
- Southern Vermont College (39 points)
- Bay Path University (34 points)
- Daniel Webster College (16 points)
- Wheelock College (11 points)