University of Northern Iowa Athletics
MVC Announces Preseason Team and Coaches Poll
1/29/2020 9:33:00 AM | Softball
ST. LOUIS, Missouri - The UNI softball team is projected to finish second in the MVC this season, according to the 2020 MVC softball preseason poll released by the conference office. The poll was voted on by the league's head coaches.Â
Three UNI players have been selected to the preseason All-MVC Team, including third baseman Adara Opiola, shortstop Sammey Bunch, and utility/pitcher Jaclyn Spencer.Â
Sammey Bunch has been selected to the Preseason All-MVC Team for the third consecutive year. In 2019, Bunch was crowned the MVC Player of the Tear, First Team All-MVC, MVC All-Tournament Team, and was an MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete. Bunch started in all 51 games for the Panthers, while leading the team with a .395 B/AVG, 51 runs, 50 RBI's, and 17 home runs. Bunch also stole 14 bases and was walked a career-high 26 times.
Adara Opiola appeared in 37 games with 37 starts for the Panthers in 2019. Opiola earned honors on the MVC All-Tournament Team and was an Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete. Opiola recorded 26 hits, 19 RBI's, 15 runs, and 5 home runs in 2019.
Jaclyn Spencer led the Panthers in the circle, as well as earning a spot on the All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Tournament Team in 2019. Spencer posted 17 starts with an 11-5 record. Spencer appeared in 104.2 innings, recording 97 strikeouts and a career-low 1.81 ERA. From the plate, Spencer finished with 12 hits, 11 RBIs, and 3 home runs.
Drake was projected to win the conference, with four first-place votes, but edged UNI in total points with 89. The Panthers received a total of four first-place votes and 87 total points. Southern Illinois was projected to finish third with one first-place vote and 82 total points. Illinois State also received one first-place vote but are projected to finish fifth with 60 total points.
The Panther's kick off the 2020 season at home in the UNI-Dome Classic against the University of South Dakota Coyotes on February 7th at 2:45 p.m.
Three UNI players have been selected to the preseason All-MVC Team, including third baseman Adara Opiola, shortstop Sammey Bunch, and utility/pitcher Jaclyn Spencer.Â
Sammey Bunch has been selected to the Preseason All-MVC Team for the third consecutive year. In 2019, Bunch was crowned the MVC Player of the Tear, First Team All-MVC, MVC All-Tournament Team, and was an MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete. Bunch started in all 51 games for the Panthers, while leading the team with a .395 B/AVG, 51 runs, 50 RBI's, and 17 home runs. Bunch also stole 14 bases and was walked a career-high 26 times.
Adara Opiola appeared in 37 games with 37 starts for the Panthers in 2019. Opiola earned honors on the MVC All-Tournament Team and was an Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete. Opiola recorded 26 hits, 19 RBI's, 15 runs, and 5 home runs in 2019.
Jaclyn Spencer led the Panthers in the circle, as well as earning a spot on the All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Tournament Team in 2019. Spencer posted 17 starts with an 11-5 record. Spencer appeared in 104.2 innings, recording 97 strikeouts and a career-low 1.81 ERA. From the plate, Spencer finished with 12 hits, 11 RBIs, and 3 home runs.
Drake was projected to win the conference, with four first-place votes, but edged UNI in total points with 89. The Panthers received a total of four first-place votes and 87 total points. Southern Illinois was projected to finish third with one first-place vote and 82 total points. Illinois State also received one first-place vote but are projected to finish fifth with 60 total points.
The Panther's kick off the 2020 season at home in the UNI-Dome Classic against the University of South Dakota Coyotes on February 7th at 2:45 p.m.
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