Softball Selected Preseason Favorite in Northeast Conference Coaches' Poll

2/27/07 -- The Long Island University softball team garnered eight of a possible 10 first-place votes and was picked to repeat as Northeast Conference champions in a poll of the league's coaches, released by the conference on Monday.

Robert Morris, the co-regular season champions and tournament runner-ups in 2006, and Wagner each received one first-place ballot and were picked to finish second and third, respectively.

The Blackbirds return the league's Player of the Year in Randi Gillespie and the NEC Pitcher of the Year, Jenny Giles. Gillespie has gotten off to a good start already this season, leading the team with a .483 batting average. Giles is 2-3 thus far this season with a 2.89 ERA and has allowed only eight walks in 46.0 innings.

Long Island will also rely heavily on a junior class led by 2006 NEC First-Team selection Vanessa Mejia. Last year, the third baseman/designate player batted .302 and had a team-best 14 doubles. Classmates Celina Castillo, Jessie DePippo and Brittany Murphy will all look to help LIU win its fourth NEC championship in the last five seasons.

Already 10 games into the season, LIU has beaten Florida Atlantic and Cal State Fullerton, each of whom were ranked in the top 35 preseason. The Blackbirds resume their 2007 schedule at the adidas Tampa Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 8 as they face Michigan State and UT-Chattanooga on the first day of competition.