COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The San Diego State softball team has been picked to finish third in the Mountain West in a preseason poll voted on by the league's nine head coaches, the conference announced Wednesday. The Aztecs have won a MW-record seven regular-season titles.
SDSU totaled 49 points in the preseason poll, trailing Fresno State's 64 points and eight first-place votes, and UNLV's 52 points and one first-place vote. Following San Diego State was Boise State (41), San José State (38), Colorado State (33), Nevada (18), Utah State (18) and New Mexico (11).
Last week, the Aztecs received one vote in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Fresno State was the only other MW team with votes, just missing the top 25 with 62 points (No. 25 Duke received 64).
SDSU finished 17-11 last season and was 37th (out of 298 schools) in the initial RPI, which is a mathematical calculation used to help determine each team's success, using a calculated strength of schedule and won-loss percentage. San Diego State was supposed to play host to defending league champion Colorado State the weekend of March 13-15 before the NCAA canceled the rest of spring competition on March 12.
This year SDSU added Power 5 transfers Jenna Holcomb (Tennessee), Alyssa Pinto (Oregon/Ole Miss), Danielle Romanello (Florida) and Nicole Seiss (Mt. SAC/Purdue), and incoming freshmen Makena Brocki and Jeweliana Perez. Additionally, seniors Shelby Thompson (four-time all-MW selection) and Marissa Moreno (2019 second-team all-MW pick) are coming back for a fifth season.
2021 MW Softball Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Fresno State (8) - 64
2. UNLV (1) - 52
3. San Diego State - 49
4. Boise State - 41
5. San José State - 38
6. Colorado State - 33
T7. Nevada - 18
T7. Utah State - 18
9. New Mexico - 11