The SLIAC Softball Coaches have chosen Spalding University as the preseason favorites for the 2024 season. The Golden Eagles picked up 63 points in the poll including seven first-place votes. Spalding won the program's first ever SLIAC Championship last season, going 29-13 overall. Head Coach Art Williams returns eight starters and will build his lineup around a trio of All-Conference hitters: Bella Velez, Grayce Marcum, and Madison Loechle. Velez, a two-way standout, hit .390 with 9 home runs and 48 RBI while also going 7-6 in the circle. Marcum finished with a .377 average, setting the SLIAC record with 12 triples last season while Loechle hit .360 with 14 doubles and 23 RBI. Fellow returning All-Conference hitters are Hayleigh Gnagie (.290 average), who will provide middle of the order protection; and Karlee Terral (.301 average) and Dawn Wilson (19 stolen bases) who will help turn the lineup over. Reigning SLIAC Newcomer of the Year Michaela Ferman went 14-6 in her first collegiate season, recording 109 strikeouts and a 2.48 earned-run average.

Fontbonne University was picked 2nd with 57 points and received the final two first-place votes. The Griffins bring back seven hitters and its entire pitching staff from a team that was 25-18 overall last year. Returning to the lineup are Ashley Carrow led the team with a .397 average and 35 RBI and Grace Paez who batted .310 with 26 RBI; with both players earning All-Conference honors. Head Coach Roni Knittig added to the lineup with the addition of transfers Jillian Mengel, Macy Brown, and Karmen Daniels. The Griffins will have a strong duo in the circle with a pair of All-Conference pitchers in Hailey Kutz and Kami Matthews. Kutz was 11-5 with 125 strikeouts and a 2.41 earned-run average while Matthews recorded 5 wins and three shutouts in her freshman campaign. 

Finishing 3rd on the poll is Webster University with 45 points. The Gorloks were 21-20 last season, finishing tied for 2nd in the SLIAC standings. Alum Morgan Mansur and Robin Jones will serve as Co-Head Coaches this season for the program.

Conference newcomer MUW comes in 4th on the poll with 38 points. The Owls are coached by Rebecca Oldham and are coming off the program's most successful season in program history, going 26-20 and advancing to the USCAA Championship game. The Owls return four USCAA All-Americans including two-way player Rylie Grisham. Grisham hit .350 with 4 home runs and 38 RBI while also leading the team with 142 innings pitched. Alysa Newman led the team with a .398 average, driving in 28 and finishing with 18 doubles while Riley Phillips hit .365 with 27 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Jessica Deming will adds to the league's long list of star leadoff hitters. Deming batted .338 with 34 stolen bases and a .510 slugging percentage.

Greenville University was picked 5th with 37 points. The Panthers are coached by Ivan Estevez and he will have to replace the departures of the SLIAC Player (Mia Boyd) and Pitcher (Alison Klaus) of the Year. He has 11 players returning from a team that went 24-17 overall last year and brings in 13 newcomers. Among the newcomers expected to contribute are Josie Grunloh and Sydnee Garrett. Returning to the lineup are All-Conference hitters Madi Case and Sarah Salas. Case hit .354 with 18 RBI and 13 stolen bases while Salas hit .323 with 3 home runs and 22 RBI. Melisa Bernal is expected to increase her workload in the circle after going 7-3 with a 1.63 earned-run average last year. 

Lyon College, in its first season with the conference, received 36 points and finished 6th. The Scots went 19-23 last season and return 11 players. Headlining the returners is the lead-off hitter Sophie Varela. The sophomore was an All-Conference performer and conference Freshman of the Year after hitting .369 with 32 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Also earning All-Conference honors were Mary Duffield, who hit .370 with 7 home runs and 32 RBI, and McKenzie Campbell. Campbell hit .293 with 17 RBI while also working 152 innings in the circle and recording 121 strikeouts. Head Coach Taylor Kuhn brings in 16 players to the program.

Eureka College was chosen 7th with 24 points. The Red Devils finished 10-29-1 last year. Head Coach Juell Hodges will have a strong core of hitters to build around in four returning All-Conference performers. KayLee Hohlbauch led the team with a .323 average last season while driving in 18. Bria Wessel batted .293 and had a team high 6 home runs with 18 RBI. Gada Bryant 16) and Macey Whisker (10) provide speed for the team. A pair of incoming transfers (Jeri Bradford and Alayla Thornton) should make a difference. 

Westminster College was picked 8th with 21 points. The Blue Jays return 15 players from last year's team that was 4-36 overall. Head Coach Sara Stafford will rely on her group of seniors to lead the program. Emily Esquivel hit .388 last year and has earned All-Conference honors in each of the previous three seasons. Also back are All-Conference performers Maddie Marrero and Kelsey Logan. Evan Gannon hit 2.65 with 6 doubles last year while Haylee Chandler hit .406 with 12 RBI. The pitching staff returns Haley Miller, Payton Dudenhoeffer, and Caroline Bentley while welcoming in freshman Ellie Bedsworth. They will be throwing the ball to backstop Raigan McKee. 

Wrapping up the poll is Blackburn College with 8 points. Head Coach Kathleen Jacoby takes over a program that went 11-25 last season. She returns seven hitters and four experienced pitchers. The lineup will be built around All-Conference outfielder Holly Heuerman. The senior hit .345 last season with 11 RBI and 6 doubles. She is joined by a pair of fellow .300 hitters in Grace Mackey and Breana Allen. Taylor Girth returns after leading the team with 85 innings pitched and 49 strikeouts.

2024 SLIAC Preseason Watch List
Holly Heuerman, Blackburn College
Gada Bryant, Eureka College
KayLee Hohlbauch, Eureka College
Bria Wessel, Eureka College
Macey Whisker, Eureka College
Ashley Carrow, Fontbonne University
Hailey Kutz, Fontbonne University
Kami Matthews, Fontbonne University
Grace Paez, Fontbonne University
Melissa Bernal, Greenville University
Madi Case, Greenville University
Sarah Salas, Greenville University
Michaela Ferman, Spalding University
Hayleigh Gnagie, Spalding University
Madison Loechle, Spalding University
Grayce Marcum, Spalding University
Karlee Terral, Spalding University
Bella Velez, Spalding University
Dawn Wilson, Spalding University
Katie Croxall, Webster University
Ainsley Hinz, Webster University
Jaelin Holdaway, Webster University
Sidney Holtz, Webster University
Kaelyn Kearney, Webster University
Paige Thomas, Webster University
Reese Waggoner, Webster University
Emily Esquivel, Westminster College
Kelsey Logan, Westminster College
Maddie Marrero, Westminster College