Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Louisiana-Lafayette-80 (8)
2. Troy-70 (1)
3. FIU- 58
4. Florida Atlantic- 50
5. North Texas- 41
6. WKU-39
7. South Alabama- 36
8. Louisiana-Monroe-19
9. Middle Tennessee- 12

NEW ORLEANS- The Sun Belt Conference released its 2010 Sun Belt Preseason Softball Poll and All-Sun Belt Team Tuesday, with Louisiana-Lafayette receiving eight first-place votes by the league's nine head coaches.

The Ragin' Cajuns received 80 total points, followed by second-place Troy with 70. FIU came in third (58), followed by FAU (50), North Texas (41), WKU (39), South Alabama (36), Louisiana-Monroe (19), and Middle Tennessee (12).

FAU's senior shortstop Blair Bodenmiller along with Louisiana-Monroe junior outfielder Brianna Love were named Co-Preseason Players of the Year as well to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Bodenmiller was named first-team All-Sun Belt in 2009 and made Sun Belt All-Tournament team. She hit .438 in five tournament games in helping the Owls get to the championship game. She also ranks in the top ten in FAU history in HR's, stolen bases and defensive assists.

Love is ULM's unquestioned offensive leader at the plate. The all-region, all-Sun Belt, and all-Louisiana athlete led the Warhawks last season in batting average (.378), runs (33), hits (54), doubles (9), triples (6), home runs (8), RBI (26), walks (26), and stolen bases (15) in 2009.

For the second year in a row Louisiana-Lafayette's Donna Bourgeois was named preseason Pitcher of the Year by the coaches. Bourgeois was the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year in 2009 after posting 30 wins in 41 appearances for ULL. She earned SBC First Team Honors, Sun Belt All-Tournament team honors, was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region team and was named All-Louisiana Pitcher of the Year by the LWSA.

Louisiana-Lafayette saw a league-high five players selected to the All-Conference Team. Joining Bourgeois were Lana Bowers (Catcher), Melissa Verde (Third Base), Gabriele Bridges (Designated Player) and Vallie Gaspard (Outfielder).

North Texas' Mallory Cantler along with Bourgeois, Bowers, Verde, and Bodenmiller received top preseason honors by the coaches for the second year in a row.


Preseason All-Conference Team
Donna Bourgeois (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., P)
Ashlyn Williams (Troy, Jr., P)
Lana Bowers (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., C)
Mallory Cantler (North Texas, Jr., 1B)
Kelsey McCauley (WKU, Sr., 2B)
Melissa Verde (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., 3B)
Blair Bodenmiller (Florida Atlantic, Sr., SS)
Vallie Gaspard (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OF)
Brianna Love (Louisiana-Monroe, Jr., OF)
Mariza Martinez (North Texas, Jr., OF)
Gabriele Bridges (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., DP)

Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Blair Bodenmiller (Florida Atlantic, Sr., SS)
Brianna Love (Louisiana-Monroe, Jr., OF)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Donna Bourgeois (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)