Rio Grande (Ohio) on top of 2020 RSC Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- University of Rio Grande (Ohio) is the predicted 2020 favorite in the River States Conference Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll this year. Voting was conducted by the nine RSC softball head coaches with the RedStorm leading in overall votes and first-place votes.
Rio Grande, which ended last year ranked No. 23 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, received 60 total votes and five of the nine first-place votes in the RSC poll. The RedStorm was 36-16 overall, 17-1 RSC last year and reached the finals of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, one game shy of the NAIA Softball World Series. Rio Grande won the RSC Regular Season championship in 2019 with only one loss in 18 games.
Point Park (Pa.) University was picked second in the RSC preseason poll with 57 total votes and three first-place votes. The Pioneers were 22-18, 12-6 RSC last year and made it to the final three teams of the RSC Softball Championship.
IU Southeast was predicted third in the preseason poll with 53 votes and the final first-place vote. The Grenadiers won the 2019 RSC Softball Championship with its run to the title featuring two wins over Rio Grande. IU Southeast, 33-24 overall, 13-5 RSC last year, made it to the final day of the NAIA Opening Round.
Midway (Ky.) University was picked fourth in the poll with 41 votes. The Eagles were 22-27 a year ago and reached the final four teams of the conference championship. WVU Tech was picked next in fifth place with 33 votes coming off its 20-28 campaign and playoff appearance. Carlow (Pa.) University was picked sixth with 29 votes and was predicted to be one of the six playoff teams again. The Celtics were 20-22 in 2019.
Brescia (Ky.) University (26 votes), Asbury (Ky.) University (15 votes) and Ohio Christian University (10) rounded out the nine teams in the preseason poll. For the complete voting, see below.
2020 RIVER STATES CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL (JAN. 9, 2020)
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
| School | Votes |
| 1. Rio Grande (Ohio) (5) | 60 |
| 2. Point Park (Pa.) (3) | 57 |
| 3. IU Southeast (1) | 53 |
| 4. Midway (Ky.) | 41 |
| 5. WVU Tech | 33 |
| 6. Carlow (Pa.) | 29 |
| 7. Brescia (Ky.) | 26 |
| 8. Asbury (Ky.) | 15 |
| 9. Ohio Christian | 10 |