Columbia Softball Voted No. 1 In Ivy League Preseason Poll
Columbia Softball Voted No. 1 In Ivy League Preseason Poll
For the first time in its 20 years competing in the Ivy League, the Columbia softball team will enter as the preseason favorite.
PRINCETON, N.J. — For the first time in its 20 years competing in the Ivy League, the Columbia softball team will enter as the preseason favorite. The Lions were picked to finish first in the 2020 Ivy League preseason poll, as voted on by 16 media members.
Coming off a program-record 15 Ivy League wins that propelled it to the 2019 Ivy League Playoff Series, Columbia received 120 total votes and 10 of the 16 first-place votes. The Lions edged out Penn, which received 112 total votes and four first-place votes, followed by Harvard (91), Dartmouth (76), Princeton (65), Yale (60), Brown (32) and Cornell (27).
"It's a huge testament to everyone that has built this program over the past 20-plus years," sixth-year head coach Jennifer Teague said. "We have quality student-athletes here that are gritty, believe in Columbia and want to be in New York City. We continue to get better and better, but we understand being picked first in the preseason poll won't help us once the season starts. We're going to continue to prepare just like we normally would and play Columbia softball."
Columbia returns six All-Ivy League selections, including First Team honorees Max Ortega, Maria Pagane and Sommer Grzybek. Pagane and Grzybek also earned NFCA All-Region honors, becoming the first pair of Lions to named to an all-region team in program history.
The Lions begin their season Friday, Feb. 21, traveling down to Madeira Beach, Florida for THE Spring Games. Opening Day will feature a doubleheader against Providence and Georgetown.
https://gocolumbialions.com/sports/softball