NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – University of Dayton softball has been chosen to finish fifth in Atlantic 10 play this coming season, according to the preseason poll conducted by the league's 10 head coaches.  Fordham was the unanimous selection for the top spot in the poll.  The Rams, coming off a 36-20 overall record and a 13-3 conference record in 2014, were winners of three of the last four A-10 Championships.

"Our entire staff and team are excited about opening the 2015 season next week," commented head coach Cara LaPlaca.  "We intentionally schedule a variety of opponents to prepare for the challenging A-10 regular season slate.  We are confident that Dayton softball will continue to advance our position in the A-10 and we expect to compete for a championship." 

Dayton softball is coming off a successful 2014 campaign.  They finished with a 27-29 record, 27 wins is the most wins in a season since 2000.  They finished 9-9 in the conference, fifth in the standings.  27 wins is the most in a single season for head coach Cara LaPlaca, it's her fifth 20-win season at UD.  

The Flyers made a second-consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship appearance, its third in the last four years and sixth overall.  The team's two victories in the tournament are the most ever by any Flyer softball team.  

Fordham will enter 2015 behind the arm of senior pitcher and First Team All-Conference selection Michele Daubman. Sophomores Amy Van Hoven and Sydney Canessa were also First Team selections a year ago and coach Bridget Orchard was the 2014 A-10 Coach of the Year.

Saint Louis was picked second in the poll.  The Billikens are led by junior pitcher Brianna Lore and senior outfielder Lindsay Friedman, both of whom were 2014 First Team All-Conference selections. Saint Joseph's was picked to finish third.  The Hawks will be led by a pair of seniors Second Team All-Conference selections, first baseman Ashley Alden and outfielder Melissa Ruf.

Massachusetts took the fourth spot in the preseason poll, followed by Dayton in fifth place and George Washington in sixth. George Mason was picked seventh and La Salle was chosen eighth. St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island rounded out the 2015 selections respectively.

The 2015 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship will be hosted by Massachusetts at Sortino Field, May 6-9 in Amherst, Mass.
 
2015 Softball Predicted Order of Finish
(2014 overall finish; A-10 record in parentheses)
1.     Fordham (36-20; 13-3)
2.     Saint Louis (30-21; 12-5)
3      Saint Joseph's (22-20; 10-6)
4.     Massachusetts (16-22-1; 9-6-1)
5.     Dayton (27-29; 9-9)
6.     George Washington (18-31-1; 4-12)
7.     George Mason (22-21; 6-10)
8.     La Salle (18-24; 9-9)
9.     St. Bonaventure (7-33; 4-11)
10.  Rhode Island (13-32-1; 6-11-1)