BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- With a wealth of experience and a multitude of talented newcomers, University of Sioux Falls Softball Team, which opens the season on Feb. 26 against Missouri-St. Louis at the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kan., has been picked to finish ninth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll released today.

USF's Softball Team, which is coming off an 11-8 season cut short by the CoVID-19 pandemic, returns 12 student-athletes and welcomes in seven newcomers who hope to make an impact and continues the program's winning ways. USF Softball received  120 points in the poll, which was just two out of eighth and behind Minot State at 122.
 
Augustana was the favorite in the 2021 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll with 12 first place votes and 222 ballot points.  Winona State was second with three first place votes and 210 ballot points. The preseason coaches' poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 15 to 1 with the top team receiving 15 points, second 14, third 13, etc.

A year ago, USF ranked ninth in the NSIC in hitting (.285), eighth in pitching (3.27 ERA) and third in fielding (.963). With eight of the top nine hitters back along with two pitchers who combined for 13 starts and 23 appearances, fourth-year USF Head Coach Shannon Pivovar has a group to be excited about.

"The ability to get our team together and play games is what excites me most about this upcoming season. We have a great bunch of kids who have rolled with every single punch and deflection we have thrown at them and have become better because of it. They work hard in the classroom, the weight room, and on the field and they have fun doing it. I am excited to watch their hard work pay off - our squad mixes speed and power offensively, a talented staff in the circle, and some fire in their belly due to the missed 2020 season. I can't wait for the first pitch of 2021 with this family," said Pivovar.

Leading the offense will be two players who ranked in the league's top 10 after playing 19 games a year ago. They include NSIC Player to Watch in freshman Shayla Running (.431, 7^th, NSIC hitting; .569 slugging, .468 OBP,) and 1B/P Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag (.429 BA, 8^th in NSIC; 2 HR, 10 RBI, .690 slugging and .579 OBP, 2^nd in the NSIC) along with center fielder Frankie Mickelson (career - .286 BA, 14 HR and 64 RBI). Cassie Van Beek (career - .261, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 9 SB), Lexie Swift (.279, 9 RBI, .393 slugging) and Emmie Uitts (.300 BA, .344 OBP).

VanDerZwaag (4-2, 3.78 era, 10A, 3S, 24K) and USF's Pitcher to Watch in sophomore Hanna Cress (5-3, 3.87 ERA, 13A, 10S, 2 CG, 47K) will lead the pitching staff.

USF has also several returners with experience, including transfers Mika Rodriguez (13 career HRs, 67 career RBI), Rachel Klassen and Kennedy Thomas, as well as Kylan Straight, Emily Cheloha, Kylie Madrid, Peyton Senger. This team also features a group of talented freshmen including Megan Lawson, Emma Spizzirri, Danielle Klenke, Damaris Cuevas and Shayla Shaver.

 "We are lucky to have 12 athletes back from our 2020 squad and have added a pair of transfers and five freshmen to that mix. I genuinely love being around our team," said Pivovar (46-46 record). "They are intuitive, hard-working, and competitive on and off the softball field and our family culture provides the glue to hold us together. I am excited to see what they are able to accomplish together this spring," Pivovar said.