MELBOURNE, Fla. – Looking to build off its first 30-win season since 2014, the Nova Southeastern softball team has been projected to finish sixth by the league's coaches in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll, announced on Friday.

The Sharks earned a total of 56 points, nine more than seventh-place Palm Beach Atlantic. On the receiving end of seven first-place votes, Rollins topped the poll for the first time since 2015. Defending SSC champion Florida Tech landed runner-up with three first-place votes, while Saint Leo and Tampa captured a share of third after collecting an identical 80 points apiece. Embry-Riddle rounded out the preseason Top-5.

Entering her fifth season at the helm, head coach Julie LeMaire will be faced with the tough task of replacing NSU's top bat in All-American Suka Van Gurp, along with the team's Top-2 arms from a year ago in Miriam Schmoll and Lexie Storrer. The Sharks will look towards the big bats of junior transfers Anina Fernandez and Juliana Speranza to step up at the plate, while Shark fans can expect to see Savannah Foster and Emiy Hess split a majority of the time in the circle for NSU.

Opening Day for the Sharks is set for Jan. 31, where they'll face both Lubbock Christian and West Alabama in the DII Gulf Shores Invitational. To stay up-to-date with the Sharks throughout the season, follow them on Twitter @NSU_Softball.

Below are the full results of the 2020 SSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses). 
 
2020 SSC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Rank 1 2 T3 T3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

School (FPV) Rollins (7) Florida Tech (3) Saint Leo Tampa (1) Embry-Riddle Nova Southeastern Palm Beach Atlantic Florida Southern Eckerd Lynn Barry

Total Votes 93 82 80 80 69 56 47 39 23 21 15