New York, N.Y. – The BIG EAST Conference has announced the 2020 Preseason Coaches' Poll on Monday afternoon. For the second consecutive season, Villanova has been selected to finish second.
 
DePaul received the most points with 48 and six first place votes. Following them is Villanova with 43 points and two first place votes, St. John's with 34, Creighton with 30 points, Seton Hall with 25 points, Providence with 22 points, Butler with 14 points and Georgetown with eight points.
 
The Wildcats are coming off of a 29-24 season while going 9-8 in the conference. They fell to DePaul in the championship game of the BIG EAST tournament.
 
Despite the loss of four seniors, including All-BIG EAST Tournament Team selection Delaney Switzer, the Wildcats welcome back 2019 BIG EAST Player of the Year Paige Rauch as well as a strong core of letterwinners. Rauch led the BIG EAST in batting average (.540), slugging percentage (1.060), on base percentage (.635), runs scored (20) and total bases (52) in 2019. The rising junior also spent 50 innings in the circle for Villanova, striking out 65 batters. Angela Giampolo, a second team all-conference honoree, returns to second base after recording 12 hits, nine RBI and three home runs. Sophomore pitcher Sara Kennedy returns to the circle after making seven conference starts and amassing a 3-1 record in her rookie campaign. Kennedy was named to the 2019 all-tournament team after picking up a complete game victory over St. John's in the semifinals.
 
The Wildcats will start their season in Florida on Feb. 7 when they take on San Diego State in Jacksonville at the Jacksonville University Tournament.
 
 
2020 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
     1.         DePaul (6) - 48                         
     2.         Villanova (2) - 43                         
     3.         St. John's - 34
     4.         Creighton - 30
     5.         Seton Hall – 25
     6.         Providence - 22
     7.         Butler – 14
     8.         Georgetown - 8