In a preseason poll, IUP softball was picked to finish third in the PSAC-West this upcoming season.
The placement was announced by IUP Athletics early Friday afternoon and it was also announced that the preseason favorite to win the division is Gannon University.
IUP received one first place vote with the other eight spread out among Seton Hall (2), Cal U (1) and the aforementioned Gannon (5). In the East, West Chester is the heavy favorite, garnering 6 first-place votes, three ahead of Kutztown.
The Hawks return a plethora of players, including former PSAC athletes of the year Kaitlyn Beers, who returns after she was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA, and Renee Wall, who led the team in home runs last year. Also returning are sophomores Hope Jones, Ashley Renzi and Indiana-native Haleigh Zimmerman.
