NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The University of Dayton softball team has been picked to finish in fourth place in the 2023 Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll. The Flyers tallied 70 points in voting among the league's head coaches as announced by the conference office Wednesday.
"We have created a healthy culture of consistent competition and genuine support," commented Dayton head coach
Cara Clark-LaPlaca following the announcement. "The depth and versatility of this year's team will allow for multiple options and combinations. Our experience in key positions has provided effective leadership as we prepare for the upcoming season. The possibilities for this team are limitless."
Fordham enters the season the top overall selection in the poll, securing 95 total points behind six first-place votes.
Dayton made the program's ninth-consecutive and 13th overall appearance in the 2022 A-10 Championship last season, finishing in third place in the program's third semifinals appearance in the last four years. Over the past eight seasons, the Flyers have finished in the top four in either the A-10 regular season or the Championship.
The Flyers return six of their everyday players from last season including 2022 A-10 Rookie of the Year
Emma Schutter. An outfielder, Schutter led the A-10 in batting average with .419, which ranked 29th nationally. In league-only games, that average climbed to .547. She was second in the league in on-base percentage (.464) and stolen bases and stolen bases per game (.512), successfully stealing 21 bases on 23 attempts.
Dayton will kick off the 2023 campaign with a trip to Deland, Florida, for the Frank Griffin Classic hosted by Stetson Feb. 10-12. Conference play begins on Saturday, March 18 before the league concludes the campaign with the 2023 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship, set for May 10-13 at Bahoshy Field on the campus of Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y.
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2023 A-10 Softball Preseason Poll
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|
School (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Fordham (6) |
95 |
| 2 |
Saint Joseph's (1) |
77 |
| 3 |
George Washington (1) |
74 |
| 4 |
Dayton (1) |
70 |
| 5 |
Saint Louis |
62 |
| 6 |
Massachusetts |
49 |
| 7 |
George Mason (1) |
47 |
| 8 |
Loyola Chicago |
42 |
| 9 |
Rhode Island |
23 |
| 10 |
St. Bonaventure |
11 |
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