RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Three members of the Manhattan College softball team-junior infielder Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.), junior designated player Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) and junior outfielder Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) were named to the Preseason All-MAAC team by the conference's nine head coaches on Thursday. The results of the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll were also announced, and the Lady Jaspers were tabbed to finish sixth in the conference.
Donnelly, Rampino and Walraven were all members of the 2009 All-MAAC First Team after leading the Lady Jaspers to an 11-5 league record and a share of the MAAC regular season title for the first time in program history. In addition, Rampino and Walraven were named to the MAAC All-Tournament team in 2009. Donnelly, who was selected to last year's postseason team as a utility player, got the nod as an infielder on this year's preseason squad. Manhattan, Fairfield and Niagara each had three players named to the 13-member Preseason All-MAAC squad.
Defending MAAC Tournament champion Canisius and Fairfield, the team that split the 2009 regular season title with Manhattan, both collected 70 points to tie for the top spot in the poll. Niagara, last year's MAAC Tournament finalist, was third with 62 points, followed by Marist with 45. Iona placed fifth with 42 points, one point ahead of the Lady Jaspers. Rounding out the poll were Siena (36), Rider (27) and Saint Peter's (12). Manhattan was picked seventh in the preseason poll last season, but went on to finish tied for first in the final standings.
Manhattan opens the 2010 campaign with its annual trip to Kissimmee, Fla., for the Rebel Spring Games from March 13-19. The Lady Jaspers' home opener is scheduled for April 3, when Central Connecticut comes to Gaelic Park for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
