FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team was picked ninth in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Preseason Softball Coaches Poll as voted on by the conference head coaches.

In her first year at NSU, newly named head coach Julie LeMaire looks to improve on the Sharks 20-25 record from 2014-15 (7-17 SSC). This will be a big test as the team will only return four players from last season: Jessie Brown (So., Hollywood, Fla.), Haley Gonzales (So., Boca Raton, Fla.), Katey Blummer (Jr., Naples, Fla.) and Dakota Villella (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.). This young squad is completely devoid of seniors and will take its lead from Gonzales and Villella, two of last season's key starters.
 
"I think Dakota Villella and Haley Gonzalez will be two key pieces to bringing this group together and getting us started this season," said LeMaire. "I am excited to get the team on the field and see what they can do together and try to capitalize on what we have from all of them."
 
Gonzales, who started all 45 games at shortstop last season, will move her skills to the outfield and is expected to make a significant impact in the lineup. In 2015, Gonzales had 18 hits over 97 at bats, eight of which were for extra bases. She tallied 94 assists and held a .911 fielding percentage. Villella adds speed to the mix while also bringing consistent hitting and strong defense in the infield. Villella batted .291 last season, with 34 hits in 117 at bats. She ranked second on the team in both runs scored (19) and stolen bases (seven). Villella had 100 putouts, 119 assists and a .973 fielding percentage.
 
Returners Blummer and Brown will round out the veteran contingent. Blummer will take on somewhat of a new role as she is now expected to catch every game. Brown will join Gonzales and looks to cover a lot of ground in the outfield.
 
While the pitching staff is also completely new, coach LeMaire has high hopes for the group. Transfer Dajia Jones (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) will be the team's power option. Freshmen Erica Winter (Blaine, Minn) and Megan Granitto (Wellington, Fla.) will bring a completely different look as they focus more on ball movement and will likely see longer innings and reentry when needed.  
 
"It's a completely new pitching staff with a transfer and two freshman," said LeMaire. "I think it's going to be a good mix to offset one another, and we are working hard on the defense so we will be able to back them up and they can pitch comfortably."
 
Making things even more challenging is the amount of action the Sharks will see on the road. The team will play 22 away games and only 14 here at the AD Griffin Sports Complex. 2016 will begin with a road trip to Clearwater, Florida for the Eckerd College Tournament on Feb. 5-7. The Sharks will get an early taste of what the conference has in store as they face No. 6 Eckerd, No. 7 Lynn and No. 2 Tampa.
 
"It is really good for us to get on the road and see some teams as well as start to play more games in one weekend," said LeMaire. "We play three, four, up to six games in a weekend for the first three weekends out. Once we get to conference play, and we only have three games in a weekend, I think we will be fresher and we will have seen some tough competition early."
 
Following the Eckerd College Tournament, the team will make the short trip north to West Palm Beach to face Armstrong State, Washburn and Georgia Southwestern in the Palm Beach Atlantic Tournament on Feb. 13-14.
 
NSU will host a doubleheader against Kentucky State to open play at home on Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. Two days later, the Sharks enter SSC play as they host Barry on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader on Feb. 20 beginning at 1 p.m.
 
The team continues conference action for the remainder of the month and into March as they will play the preseason favorite St. Leo on Feb. 26-27 and host Tampa on March 4-5 and West Liberty on March 6.
 
The remainder of March features a tough slate of opponents as the Sharks participate in the Spring Games Tournament in Clermont, Fla. and finish the month with conference matchups against Eckerd in St. Petersburg, Fla. on March 18-19 and Florida Tech at home on March 24-25.
 
The remainder of the season will be challenging as the team faces conference foes Rollins, Florida Southern and Lynn, all between April 1-23. NSU will complete the regular season at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Fla. on April 29 at 6 p.m. followed by a doubleheader against the Eagles on April 30 at 1 p.m.
 
The NCAA South Regional will take place on May 5-8 followed by the NCAA Super Regional on May 13-14. The NCAA Division II Championship will take place May 17-21 in Denver, Colo.

2016 SSC SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

School (FPV) Saint Leo (5) Tampa (3) Barry Rollins (1) Florida Tech Eckerd Lynn Florida Southern Nova Southeastern

Total Votes 59 55 50 48 38 25 19 18 12