University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Softball Picked Fifth in CAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1/27/2015 3:56:00 PM | Softball
RICHMOND, Va. -- The University of Delaware softball team was picked fifth in the 2015 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll announced by the conference on Wednesday.
James Madison, last year's regular season and conference tournament champion, received seven of eight first place votes and finished on top of the poll with 56 points. College of Charleston was picked second with 48 points, while Hofstra was third with 46 points and the other first place vote.
Towson was selected fourth with 37 points, while Delaware was picked fifth with 29 points. Elon (28), UNCW (21) and Drexel (15) rounded out the poll.
Delaware, which will be led by fifth-year head coach Jaime Wohlbach, returns 14 letterwinners and welcomes nine newcomers for the 2015 season. The Blue Hens went 23-25 last year, finishing fifth in the CAA with a 5-12 league record.
The Delaware lineup will be paced by senior rightfielder Jessica Grisler, who batted .327 last season while leading the team with 51 hits, 31 runs, nine doubles and 24 RBI. Grisler enters her senior season ranked sixth in UD history with 173 hits, and needs just 33 more to set the school record.
The Blue Hen infield will be anchored by sophomore Giovanna Kolofer, a second team All-CAA and conference All-Rookie selection last year when she batted a team-high .340 for Delaware. Kolofer ranked second on the squad with 22 RBI, while she posted a team-leading four triples. Classmate Sarah Bencivenga, who started all 48 games at shortstop, joined Kolofer on the CAA All-Rookie team after batting .286 with 42 hits.
The Delaware pitching staff will be led by sophomore Carolyn Szymanski, who won a team-best 12 games in the circle a year ago. Junior Kelly Lupton, who went 7-8 with a 3.01 ERA, also returns, along with Kiersten Coffman and Taylor Curran.
Delaware kicks off its 2015 campaign on Feb. 13-15 when the Blue Hens face Toledo, Charleston Southern and Howard at the Charleston Southern Tournament. UD opens its home schedule on Mar. 7 as the Blue Hens host Hartford and Coppin State on the first day of the Blue Hen Blast. Delaware begins CAA play on Mar. 21-22 with a three-game weekend series at Drexel.
2015 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison - 56 (7)
2. College of Charleston - 48
3. Hofstra - 46 (1)
4. Towson - 37
5. Delaware - 29
6. Elon - 28
7. UNCW - 21
8. Drexel - 15
