WESTON, Mass. - The Regis College softball team was selected sixth in the annual New England Collegiate Conference Preseason Poll, it was announced on Tuesday. The Pride, who return nine letterwinners from last year's squad, picked up 49 points in the poll to finish in the sixth spot out of ten teams. Placement is determined by a vote amongst the conference's coaches.

Five-time defending NECC Champion, Lesley was selected as the preseason favorite after taking 99 points and nine out of a possible ten first place votes. Newbury came in second behind the Lynx with 78 points, while Elms and Becker tied for third with 73 points apiece. The Blazers received the only other first place vote. Mitchell rounds out the top half of the poll with 68 points.

Regis followed right behind the Mariners. The Pride will be led by sophomore Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.), a 2013 All-NECC Second Team selection. Garvey is coming off of a freshman campaign in which she led Regis in at-bats (105), runs (22), hits (45), triples (5), homeruns (1), RBIs (22), stolen bases (8), and hitting (.429). 

Bay Path was projected to finish in the seventh position after taking 43 points in the vote. Daniel Webster (36), Southern Vermont (27), and Wheelock (10) round out the bottom three spots. 

Regis opens up the season on March 3 with a 5 p.m. non-conference game against St. Vincent, which will be played in Clermont, Fla.

To view the entire NECC release, please click here.

2014 NECC Softball Coaches Poll
(First place votes in parenthesis)