ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced the preseason coaches' poll for the upcoming softball season. The Gorloks are picked to finish in third place in the conference after receiving 45 points in the poll.

The Gorloks return 14 players from last years team that finished the season with a 21-20 overall record and a 13-5 mark in conference play. They earned the third seed in the SLIAC Tournament and were able to win two games before eventually falling in back-to-back contests to Spalding (Ky.) University and Fontbonne (Mo.) University.

Of the 14 returners, four players appeared in 40 or more games last season including Jaelin Holdaway, Katie Croxall, Paige Thomas, and Madi Stichling. Holdaway and Croxall were both named First Team All-SLIAC in 2023 while Thomas earned Second Team All-SLIAC honors. Holdaway was also named Second Team All-Region VIII after breaking the Webster single season hits record with 68 on the year. Croxall hit .417 with 28 RBI and 18 doubles while Thomas hit .402 with 14 doubles and a team high 40 RBI. Stichling hit .345 with 44 total bases.

The Gorloks also return Reese Waggoner, Ainsley Hinz, Kaelyn Kearney, and Sidney Holtz who all earned All-SLIAC honors last season. Waggoner was named Second Team All-SLIAC as a pitcher after going 7-5 with three shutouts and a 2.65 ERA in the circle. Hinz was named Third Team All-SLIAC as a pitcher after going 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA. Kearney and Holtz also earned Third Team All-SLIAC recognition after hitting .320 and .310, respectively.

Lastly, Lucy St. John, Aven Ragwar-Hayes, Emma Bovaconti, and Cheyenne Dickens also return for the Gorloks after all appearing in over 20 games last season. St. John and Ragwar-Hayes both stole three bases last season while St. John hit .264 and Ragwar-Hayes hit .269. Bovaconti recorded 21 total bases and seven RBI in 2023 while Dickens went 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA in the circle.

In addition to the returners, the Gorloks also welcome five newcomers to the team. Of the five newcomers, three are sophomores and two are freshman.

Spalding (Ky.) University is picked to win the conference for the second straight season after receiving 63 points in the poll and seven first place votes. Fontbonne (Mo.) University is picked to finish second after receiving 57 points and two first place votes.

The conference also announced the 2024 Preseason Watch List. Katie Croxall, Ainsley Hinz, Jaelin Holdaway, Sidney Holtz, Kaelyn Kearney, Paige Thomas, and Reese Waggoner were all recognized.

The Gorloks will open their season on Saturday, February 17^th when they travel to Memphis, Tennessee, to take on Maryville (Tenn.) College and Rhodes (Tenn.) College. The games are set to start at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at Rhodes College.