SU roundup: Softball team selected fifth in ODAC poll

Daily staff report

WINCHESTER -- Shenandoah University was picked fifth in the 2013 Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason softball poll released by the league office on Wednesday.

The Hornets received 61 points in the poll to come in just behind fourth place Randolph-Macon, which received 65 points. Virginia Wesleyan was chosen as the favorite to win the ODAC, receiving seven first-place votes and 96 total points, and Roanoke was second with four first-place votes and 94 points.

Shenandoah, which won one regular season and one tournament title in its final five seasons in the USA South, returns seven position players and two pitchers from last year's 24-17 squad. Six of those players earned all-USA South honors last season, including Brittany Guepe, who was named a first-team all-conference outfielder.

2013 ODAC softball preseason poll
1. Virginia Wesleyan (7 first-place votes) 96 points
2. Roanoke (4) 94
3. Bridgewater 82
4. Randolph-Macon 65
5. Shenandoah 61
6. Lynchburg 58
7. Eastern Mennonite 54
8. Randolph 33
9. Guilford 31
10. Emory and Henry 21
11. Sweet Briar 10