UNI Picked For Third-Place Finish In MVC Softball Race

UNI has been picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) softball race this spring in a survey of the league's coaches.

The Panthers garnered one first-place vote and the most pre-season individual honors with four, claiming three of the infield spots. Second baseman Julia Hunter (Sr., Iowa City, Iowa) and third baseman Rikki Alcaraz (Sr., Oakland Park, Ill.) along with shortstop Caitlin Wnek (Jr., Amana, Iowa) and utility player/pitcher Chelsea Ross (Jr., Kansas City, Mo.) will lead the Panthers on the field after winning 28 games a year ago.

Alcaraz made first team All-MVC a season ago as well as the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Midwest All-Region third team.

The coaches picked Wichita State as the preseason favorite to win the 2015 league title. The Shockers won the regular-season crown in 2014 and return all three of their 2014 all-conference first-team players.

Illinois State took second place in the voting, while Southern Illinois was picked for a fourth-place finish behind UNI. The Salukis return five starters.

After winning the MVC Tournament championship a year ago and going to the NCAA Softball Tournament, Bradley was voted as the Valley's fifth-place team. Drake (six starters returning), is picked sixth, followed by Missouri State, Loyola (Chicago), Indiana State and Evansville.

All ten Missouri Valley Conference softball teams begin action the first weekend of February, with tournament play and non-conference games. League competition starts on Saturday, March 14th.

UNI will open its season at home with the Ramada UNI-Dome Classic Feb. 6-8. The six team event will feature Iowa, Southern Utah, Wisconsin-Green Bay, North Dakota State and Drake.

The Panthers open Missouri Valley Conference play at home on Saturday, March 28, against Southern Illinois at Robinson-Dresser Field in Cedar Falls. It will be the first of 14 scheduled MVC home games.