IRVINE, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team is picked to finish eighth in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Poll in a vote conducted by the conference coaches.
The Silverswords received 29 points, just edging out ninth-place Holy Names, which received 27 points.
Two-time defending PacWest champion Concordia Irvine is a unanimous pick to three-peat, receiving all 10 first-place votes. Hawai'i Hilo received 81 points to finish second in the voting while Azusa Pacific rounds out the top three.
Biola's Kayla Neff, last year's PacWest Player of the Year, was voted the conference's Preseason Player of the Year. Concordia's Callie Nunes, who won 33 games and fired three no-hitters last season, is the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Although Friday is the first day for softball in NCAA Division II, the Silverswords won't start their season until Tuesday, Feb. 18, when they open against the University of British Columbia at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Softball Complex.
