MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - The Shippensburg University softball team was picked second in the preseason PSAC Eastern Division coaches poll released on Friday afternoon by conference officials. The Lady Raiders begin their season today with a doubleheader at Mount Olive that will be broadcast online here.

Due to the additions of Gannon and Mercyhurst to the conference this season, the competitive alignment has now been shifted to three divisions of five teams. Shippensburg, who was picked behind Kutztown, remains in the Eastern Division with East Stroudsburg, Mansfield and West Chester.
 
Shippensburg has become a consistently competitive program in one of the most dynamic regions in the country. Over the past eight seasons, the Lady Raiders have won 68 percent of their games and have recorded at least 27 wins every year since 2001.

The 2009 season will continue this tradition of excellence while seeking to mirror the production of the 2003-05 seasons, in which Shippensburg averaged 42 wins per season and won the PSAC Softball Championship each year.

After the loss of five seniors, the Lady Raiders will enter the season with nine newcomers on a squad with an interesting mix of players. The 20-player squad features a lot of versatility and youth that hopes to gel quickly.

With just two juniors and three seniors on the roster – the younger players have the potential to mature and establish a strong group of talent that will be around for several consecutive seasons.

The senior captains will help provide significant leadership to this year's squad. Lori Knopf, Rachelle Wedell, and Chelsea Carson are all veterans that were members of the last Shippensburg squad to make the PSAC Tournament and will be on-field spark plugs for this year's team.

Shippensburg will boast a highly motivated group of players to the field in 2009 that are looking to get back into the post-season tournament and also extend its streak of seven consecutive NCAA post-season appearances.

A full outlook is available here.

PSAC Eastern Division
1. Kutztown (5)
2. Shippensburg
3. East Stroudsburg
4. Millersville
5. West Chester

PSAC Central Division
1. Lock Haven (5)
2. Bloomsburg
3. IUP
4. Mansfield
5. Clarion

PSAC Western Division
1. California (Pa.) (4)
2. Slippery Rock (1)
3. Gannon
4. Mercyhurst
5. Edinboro