Women's softball picked to win GLVC East in annual preseason poll
Romeoville, Ill. - The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced on Tuesday (Jan. 31) that the Lewis University softball team is once again expected to be at the top of the pack, as the two-time defending conference champs have been picked to win the GLVC East in the annual preseason poll as voted upon by league coaches.
See all Lewis women's softball.
Lewis received 12 out of a possible 15 first-place votes to win the East, while 2011 GLVC regular-season champion, Missouri-St. Louis was picked to win the GLVC West division. This year marks the first season in which the 16 GLVC softball squads will play a divisional schedule.
"It's always nice for your team to be recognized by your peers," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "There's a lot of softball to be played this year and hopefully we'll live up to our expectations."
Helping those expectations is the return of seven starters, including the designated player, and two-time All-GLVC pitcher Karissa Habel (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South). In 2011, Lewis batted over .300 as a team and had a team earned run average of 2.66 on their way to a record of 36-14.
Offensively, the Flyers will be led by juniors Jayme Hefler (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) and Michelle Vucsko (Chicago, Ill./Marist). In two seasons, Hefler has compiled a career batting average of .409, which is currently the best in school-history, along with 81 stolen bases, which is second in school-history. She also is the school-record holder in on-base percentage (.485).
A two-time All-GLVC selection and All-Region First Team honoree as a freshman, Vucsko batted .310 with four home runs and 41 RBI in 2011. She currently is fourth in school-history with a .368 career batting average.
Lewis opens the season on Friday (Feb. 10), as the Flyers head to Las Vegas, Nev., to participate in the Desert Stinger Tournament.
For the full 2012 GLVC preseason poll, click here.
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