Lynchburg College received six of a possible ten first place votes on the way to 95 total points as the Hornets were chosen atop the 2010 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll.  Bridgewater College sits second after earning 88 poll points and one top nod.  Roanoke College gathered 84 total tallies and the remaining three first place votes to complete the top three in the annual coaches' survey.

The preseason poll released by the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) shows Bridgewater among its early ranks.  The NFCA has the Eagles slotted 13^th in its NCAA Division III preseason poll, the only ODAC program included in its listing.  Messiah College (Pa.) is rated No. 1 after winning the national title in 2009.

Lynchburg (38-8-1 overall, 16-2 in ODAC play in 2009) opens the 2010 campaign with its eyes set on a pair of records currently owned by Roanoke.  The Hornets have won six overall and each of the past three conference championships, leaving them one short of the Maroons seven total league crowns and the four-straight they won from 1999-2002.  Aside from winning the ODAC title each of the past three years, Lynchburg has played in five consecutive championship games, dating back to the 2005 season.  To help extend each streak, head coach Dawn Simmons welcomes back a pair of All-ODAC First Team choices in shortstop Taylor Walker (.277 BA, 8 HR, 23 RBI) and outfielder Lauren Duguay (.347, 6, 29).  They're joined by two second team selections in pitcher/designated player Katie Bruce (.324, 9, 44 / 20-3, 1.86 ERA, 111 K) and outfielder Audra Della Rosa (.323, 17 BB, 13 SB).  Bruce's 44 runs batted led the ODAC while her 20 wins placed second.  Third baseman Rachel Gallagher led the league with 12 homers with four coming during her run to MVP of the ODAC Tournament.

Bridgewater (36-11, 13-3) has yet to corral an ODAC title in six trips to the championship game.  Head coach Donnie Fulk welcomes back all four members of a pitching staff that posted a league-best 1.37 earned run average in 2009.  All-ODAC First Team hurler, Ashley Gills, returns after leading the ODAC with a 1.04 ERA.  She went 16-5 in 23 appearances, collecting one save and 118 strikeouts in 128.0 innings pitched.  She's joined by Becky Schmidt (8-3, 1.28), Summer Ramsey (6-1, 1.77) and Lindsay Lam (6-2, 1.80).  In terms of offense, All-ODAC First Team designated player, Emily Morris, is back for another go-round.  She finished third in the league in batting with a .384 average while playing and starting in 46 of the Eagles 47 games.  Also back in action is All-ODAC Second Team second baseman Hillary Rees (.348, 17 SB), who tied for the league-lead with 13 doubles.

Roanoke (24-11, 12-6) and second-year head coach, Mike Mitchell, look to make it back to the ODAC title game for the first time since winning the last of three-straight championships in 2006.  A pair of all-conference Maroons returns to Salem, including All-ODAC First Team utility player, Kelsey Ruitenberg (Geneva, IL, Geneva).  She split time between pitcher and first base, posting a 9-2 record and 1.62 ERA from the rubber, as well as a .368 batting average at the dish.  She also smacked six homeruns to go with 35 RBI, and tied for tops in the league with 13 doubles.  All-ODAC Second Team catcher, Felice Lowery (Madison Heights, VA, Lynchburg Christian), batted .355 in her rookie season.  Roanoke will be looking for continued production from several players including pitcher Gretchen Wolfe (New Windsor, NY, Newburgh Free Academy)(7-4, 2.62) and utility Lis Norwich (Hegins, PA, Tri-Valley)(.283 / 6-4, 1.82).

Plenty of talent remains throughout the ODAC as 17 of the 23 athletes from the all-conference first or second teams return to their respective programs.  Guilford College (26-13, 13-5), Randolph-Macon College (15-17, 7-11) and Virginia Wesleyan College (27-17, 10-8) return each of two honorees to their squads.  The Quakers welcome back first team third baseman, Ami Hutcherson (.339, 11 SB), as well as second team outfielder, Kimberly Keys (.345, 14 RBI).  The Yellow Jackets also have their third baseman back in tow in second team choice Paige Smith (.366, 7, 21).  She's joined by fellow second teamer, outfielder Morgan Greene (.333, 8 SB).  The Marlins welcome back first team second baseman, Kristy White (.358, .465 OBP, 18 SB, 22 BB) and 2009 wins and strikeouts leader, righty Brittaney Brown (24-10, 1.75, 195 K).

Eastern Mennonite University (21-19, 7-11) and Randolph College (19-15, 8-10) both return one all-conference athlete each.  The Royals bring back second team utility Lisa Lee (.308, 7, 32 / 7-4, 2.01, 72 K) after pitching EMU into its first championship game appearance since 1992.  The WildCats bring back 2009 ODAC Player of the Year, Lindsay Cross.  A two-sport athlete (basketball), Cross led the ODAC in batting (.491), on-base percentage (.538) and slugging percentage (.764) while placing third in hits (52) and doubles (12).

Listed below is the complete 2010 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC softball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.