Illinois State softball picked for 2nd in MVC preseason poll

Posted on January 23, 2015

Melinda Fischer's Redbirds finished third in the MVC last season. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference released its preseason softball poll and the Illinois State Redbirds have been selected to finish second in the league.

ISU is coming off of a 25-27 season that included a 13-7 mark in the MVC, which was good enough for third in the conference.

The Redbirds finished with 87 points in the preseason poll and also garnered one first place vote. ISU has won the league’s regular season 12 times and the conference tournament six times.

In addition to releasing the preseason poll, the Valley also announced the Preseason All-Valley Team. The Redbirds placed three players on the All-MVC Team. Jordan de los Reyes, Kara Repp and Regan Romshek were all three given the honor after being named to the All-Valley team at the conclusion of the 2014 season.

De los Reyes is the top returner in batting average (.315), hits (45), home runs (11) and runs batted in (44). Repp batted .306 last season and started 51 games. She tallied 38 hits and had a .979 fielding percentage. Romshek returns as ISU’s ace, having won 17 games last season in the circle. Her 2.71 earned run average was the lowest on the team and she pitched 214 innings. At the plate she was just as good, batting .268 with a team-high 11 doubles to go along with six home runs.

The Redbirds finished seven points behind Wichita State in the voting. ISU will travel to play the Shockers April 11-12 and will then return to Wichita for the MVC Tournament May 7-9.

The Redbirds open play Feb. 6, in Tampa, Fla.

 

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