Jan. 28, 2011
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova softball team was selected seventh in the 2011 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office has announced.
The Wildcats received 78 points in the poll. Notre Dame took the top spot in the poll after winning a share of the 2010 regular season title. The Fighting Irish earned 10 first-place votes and 141 points. DePaul came in second with three first-place votes and 129 points also winning a share of last season's title. With 123 points, Louisville took the third spot in the poll and BIG EAST Tournament champion Syracuse was the fourth selection with 117 points.
Pittsburgh and USF were selected ahead of Villanova with 93 and 85 points, respectively. Providence claimed the eighth spot with 57 points, while Connecticut (52 points) and Rutgers (46 points) rounds out the top 10.
St. John's was selected 11th with 44 points, while Seton Hall (27 points) and Georgetown (22 points) closed out the poll.
Villanova went 27-28 overall last season and were 12-10 in the BIG EAST finishing fourth overall. The Wildcats will lose just two starters from the 2010 squad and will have the help of all-conference selections in sophomores Valerie Ortega and Amanda Marquez. Villanova returned to the conference tournament last season for the first time since 2005.
