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2016 Season Preview

Villanova, Pa. - The Villanova Softball team opens up their 2016 season this Friday February 19 as they travel to Madeira Beach, Fla. for the Eastern Michigan / Madeira Beach Spring Invitational Tournament.

This will be Villanova's second consecutive season playing in this tournament.

The Wildcats will play a total of five games this weekend with two games apiece on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20 and a single game on Sunday, February 21.

On Friday, Villanova opens up with a 1:30 p.m. matchup with George Mason. The Patriots, who compete in the Atlantic 10, were picked to finish fifth in their conference. Overall, they were 23-29 last season with an 11-12 record in A-10 play. Villanova last played George Mason on Feb. 13, 2009 in Orlando where the Wildcats emerged with the 6-5 win.

In game two on Friday, Villanova will square off against Manhattan College at 6:30 p.m. The Jaspers finished 2015 with a 26-20 overall record and went 13-7 in MAAC play. Senior catcher Elena Bowman was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, and she was named to USA Softball's Top 50 Watch List. She won MAAC Player of the Year honors pacing the league in batting average at .448. She hit 16 homeruns and was tied for the conference lead in RBIs with 41.

On Saturday, Villanova plays Georgia Southern at 4:00 p.m. and North Florida at 6:30 p.m. The Wildcats were set to play Georgia Southern last year in the USF Tournament, but the game was cancelled due to weather.

Georgia Southern comes into the tournament 1-4 overall. Their lone victory was over Alabama A&M last Friday, February 12 at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic hosted by Mississippi State. The Eagles went 12-39 one season ago. Villanova last played Georgia Southern on February 27, 2010 at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational. The `Cats fell 3-2.

North Florida enters the EMU tournament 0-5 on the season after playing in the LSU Tiger Classic last weekend in Baton Rouge, La. Villanova last played the Ospreys on February 25, 2011 in which the Wildcats won 2-1 in nine innings.

The Wildcats will close out the tournament with a 9:00 a.m. matchup against Siena. The Saints head to Florida looking to improve upon their 21-27-1 overall record from one season ago. Villanova beat Siena 5-1 last February.

Be sure to follow the team socially on Twitter @VUSoftball, Instagram @novasoftball and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news scores and highlights from the Wildcats throughout the season.