Jan. 19, 2006
Complete A-10 Preseason Polls in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
PHILADELPHIA - With the 2006 spring sports season just around the corner, the Atlantic 10 head coaches have voted on how they predict the season will unfold. The results of the voting were released Thursday in the Atlantic 10 preseason polls.
The Flyers have seven teams competing out of the nine Atlantic 10 spring sports. Leading the way for UD's seven Atlantic 10 Spring sports is baseball which was ranked fourth. Flyer softball and men's tennis were picked to finish fifth while women's rowing was sixth, outdoor track & field was seventh, women's tennis was eighth and men's golf was 10th.
Baseball
UD baseball is coming off a school-record 36 wins in 2005 en route to a second place finish in the Atlantic 10 West Division and its third-ever berth in the Atlantic 10 Championships. They are led by Senior Preseason All-America pitcher Luke Trubee who had the most wins in 2005 (12) of any returning pitcher in the nation this season.
The baseball team begins its 2006 season on Saturday, February 18 with a doubleheader at Wofford.
Softball
In 2005, UD Softball posted its second 20-win season in three years, and finished in the top five in conference standings for seventh time in eight years. The Flyers finished fifth in the A-10 last season with 20-18-1 overall record and 8-8 conference ledger while UD Head Coach Jodi Eickemeyer won her 200th game at UD and the team opened its new home, UD Softball Stadium, with a 9-4 home record.
The softball team opens its 2006 schedule on Saturday, February 18 with a doubleheader at Belmont.
Men's Tennis
Men's Tennis opens the 2006 season after finishing second a year ago in the conference tournament, which was its best finish ever. With only two seniors on the Roster this year and 11 underclassmen, the young team should have a very successful spring season. They have seven returning lettermen and brought in a strong recruiting class of six freshmen.
Dayton's Spring season begins on Saturday with matches in Richmond, Ky. against Southern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky.
Women's Rowing
The Rowing team comes off a very successful season in 2005 in which they also had their best finish ever in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships by placing second. The Flyers we ranked as high as 13th Nationally in the US Rowing Women's lightweight Eight Collegiate coaches poll. This fall, the Flyers captured a Top 6 finish in all nine shells it sponsored during the Head of the Elk Regatta.
UD will begin its 2006 Spring season with a dual against Duquesne on Saturday, March 25.
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Dayton track & field has a new look this year. This new look comes in the form of newly hired coach Kandice Erwin from Texas Lutheran University who brings success and a winning spirit to this team. In 2005, the Flyers were led by thrower Kelly Pohlman who won the A-10 Shot Put Title each of the past two seasons. Coming off a strong Indoor season in which the UD women have broken numerous amounts of records already, the Flyers are looking for their best finish ever in the A-10 Championships this season.
UD continues its indoor season on Friday at the Bowling Green Invitational.
Women's Tennis
The women's tennis team also has a new coach with them this year. Erica Echko led the team to a 2-0 record in dual matches during her Fall season. The Flyers will be led by sophomore Megan Gray (10-5 singles record) and junior Kate Mellion (8-3 singles record) in the up-coming season. Last year, the UD women finished sixth in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Dayton plays at Louisville on Friday before returning home to host Cleveland State on Saturday.
Men's Golf
Flyer Men's Golf returns to action this year after finishing sixth at the Conference Championships in 2005. UD is led by seniors Brett Gould (77.48 avg.) and Adam Myers (77.41 avg.) who look to capitalize on the momentum they gained from a successful fall campaign.
The Flyers Spring season begins on with the Grover Page Classic in Pickwick Dam, Tenn. On March 6 & 7.
