OGDEN, Utah-- A year after qualifying for its first-ever Big Sky Conference Tournament, the University of North Dakota softball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2018 Big Sky Coaches Poll, released Thursday by league officials. Defending conference tourney champion Montana tops the poll with five first-place nods while the reigning regular season champ Weber State picked up the remaining three top votes to finish runner-up in the preseason prognostications.
The poll mimics last season's final standings with fourth place Idaho State (4th) and Southern Utah (T5th) swapping places in the preseason poll. Sacramento State grabbed 37 points to take third in the poll, then three teams were within three points of each other as Idaho State took fourth at 27 while North Dakota and Southern Utah shared fifth with 24 points. Northern Colorado and Portland State each garnered 10 points to round out the poll.
With the season drawing closer-- UND opens Feb. 9 in Charleston, S.C.-- North Dakota is aiming to continue its ascent up the league standings. Destination spots like Arizona, Nashville and Hawaii appear on UND's non-conference schedule, but for fourth-year head coach Jordan Stevens, the fervor for Spring to arrive is based on momentum compiled on the diamond last season.
In 2017, the Fighting Hawks reached new heights with a school-record for conference wins on the way to their first-ever Big Sky Conference Tournament. Many key pieces return from that team, including the Big Sky Conference Pitcher of the Year senior Kaylin VanDomelen, who led the league in earned run average (1.95) and was second in strikeouts (171). VanDomelen is also UND's biggest threat at the plate, hitting a team-high .333 with eight homers and 26 RBI last season. Her average was among the league leaders and her 16 doubles were second-most in the conference.
UND has plenty of firepower returning, though, after smashing 32 homers as a team last season, the players who hit 25 of those round-trippers return in 2018. Fellow senior Taylor Nadler hit seven dingers and led the squad with 28 RBI. Victoria Minor, the team's biggest threat to steal (9-of-11 last year) is back in the mix along with fellow starters Dani Romero (6 HR), Mary Martin (only 6K in 94 ABs), Marina Marzolino (.292 BA, 7 HR, .618 Slug pct.), Angel Love (4-4 SB, 14 runs), Lindsey Harford and Lexi Mayhood.
In the circle, the top three innings-eaters return with VanDomelen and Hannah Bergh combining for 50 starts last year and Nikki Pica appearing in 21 games. That trio combined for 260 strikeouts in 342 innings.
North Dakota is poised for another step in the right direction in its final season in the Big Sky Conference in 2018. The league tournament, which is already set for Ogden, Utah, could be the setting for another new achievement for this up-and-coming squad that features 16 returning letterwinners in total.
2018 Big Sky Conference Preseason Poll
1. Montana (5) 47
2. Weber State (3) 45
3. Sacramento St 37
4. Idaho State 27
5. North Dakota 24
5. Southern Utah 24
7. No. Colorado 10
7. Portland State 10
