WASHINGTON – The defending Atlantic 10 Champion Dayton was a near unanimous choice to repeat as league champions in 2025 according to the A-10 preseason poll, which was announced on Tuesday. The preseason poll was voted on by the ten league coaches.
The Flyers received 98 points in the poll with nine first-place votes. Dayton, which went 33-21 overall and 19-7 in the conference, won the regular season title and the Flyers' first conference championship title last season. Under 2024 A-10 coach of the year Cara Clark, the Flyers return First Team All-Conference players infielder Maddie Kapsimalis, infielder Kirnan Bailey, pitcher Haven Dwyer and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-Conference selection outfielder Emma Schutter.
Saint Louis, the runner-up in the 2024 championship, was picked second after receiving 85 points and the final first-place vote. The Billikens ended 2024 with a 31-22 overall record and 16-10 in the A-10. SLU returns 2024 Rookie of the Year pitcher/outfielder Isabel Royle and 2024 First Team All-Conference players first baseman Jane Kaniecki and outfielder Natalie Sullivan.
Loyola Chicago was picked third after the Ramblers received 84 points. The Ramblers went 29-24 overall and 16-10 in the A-10. Loyola Chicago returns 2024 Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-Conference Peyton Pepkowski alongside fellow First Team All-Conference infielder Liz Sedakis.
Fordham was fourth in the poll with 66 points and finished the 2024 season 25-29-1 overall and 15-11 in conference play. The Rams see the return of three First Team All-Conference players in catcher Sydney Wells, catcher Nicki Sudall and outfielder Neleh Nogay.
Saint Joseph’s was picked fifth with 52 points, Massachusetts was chosen sixth with 51 points, George Washington was picked seventh with 46 points and George Mason was picked eighth with 34 points. Rhode Island was picked ninth and St. Bonaventure was picked 10
th to conclude the preseason poll.
The 2025 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship will be hosted at George Washington Softball Field – Mount Vernon Campus May 7 -10 in Washington, DC.
2025 Softball Predicted Order of Finish
(Number of first place votes in parenthesis)
- Dayton – 98 (9)
- Saint Louis – 85 (1)
- Loyola Chicago – 84
- Fordham – 66
- Saint Joseph’s - 52
- Massachusetts – 51
- George Washington – 46
- George Mason – 34
- Rhode Island – 23
- St. Bonaventure - 11