NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – University of Dayton softball has been chosen to finish sixth in Atlantic 10 play this coming season, according to the preseason poll conducted by the league's 10 head coaches. Reining Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Champion Fordham has been predicted to win the 2014 A-10 Championship.

"We are looking forward to opening our season next week in Santa Barbara, Calif.," commented head coach Cara LaPlaca. "Our early season schedule will prepare us to be competitive in A-10 Conference play. We have proven that Dayton Flyers Softball is on the rise. We certainly have veteran experience with our 2014 group and expect them continue to elevate the program."

Dayton tallied a school-record 12 wins in league action in 2013 and made the program's fifth appearance in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship - coach LaPlaca's second appearance in the post-season tournament in the last three seasons. She guided her team to a 22-24 overall record - the program's best winning percentage (.478) since 2005 - and a 12-9 mark in league action. The Flyers finished the 2013 regular season in sixth place in conference standings.

The Rams finished the 2013 season with an overall record of 36-23 and a conference record of 15-7. The Rams, winners of two of the last three A-10 championships, defeated top-seeded Saint Joseph's in last year's A-10 championship to capture the 2013 conference title. Leading the way for Fordham is returning first team All-Conference performer junior Kayla Lombardo along with second team All-Conference performers senior Gabby Luety and senior Elise Fortier. In 2013, Fortier broke several Fordham school records including home runs (20), runs scored (61), walks (43) and slugging percentage (.808).

There was a tie for second in the preseason poll between George Washington and Saint Joseph's. The Colonials are led by senior pitcher Courtney Martin, a returning first team All-Conference performer. Martin won 14 games for the Colonials in addition to striking out 170 in 193.2 innings last season. The Hawks are led by returning first team All-Conference performer and reigning A-10 Rookie of the Year, Sarah Yoos. Yoos finished her freshman campaign batting .375 along with three home runs and 33 RBI.

Massachusetts took the fourth spot in the preseason poll, followed by Saint Louis (fifth), Dayton (sixth), George Mason (seventh), St. Bonaventure (eighth), La Salle (ninth), and Rhode Island (10th).

The 2014 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship will be hosted by Fordham University May 7-10 at the Murphy Athletic Complex in Bronx, N.Y.

2014 Softball Predicted Order of Finish
(2013 Overall Finish; A-10 Record in parentheses)
1. Fordham (36-23; 15-7)
T2. George Washington (27-23; 13-7)
T2. Saint Joseph's (37-10-1; 17-5)
4. Massachusetts (18-25; 12-10)
5. Saint Louis (28-23; 13-9)
6. Dayton (22-24; 12-9)
7. George Mason (18-37; 6-15 CAA)
8. St. Bonaventure (10-42; 4-18)
9. La Salle (16-31; 3-19)
10. Rhode Island (10-37; 3-18)