The Marian University softball team received votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll that was announced Tuesday. The Knights received 86 votes, which places them at No. 27 on the list.

The defending MCC Tournament champion Knights finished last season with a 14-2 conference record, and a 37-9 overall record, which was their 2nd best all-time. Top returners for MU include All-Conference selections sophomore Kelsey Uebelhor (St. Anthony, Ind./ Forest Park), junior Mallory Ortwein (Anderson, Ind./Anderson), senior Sandy Corum (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County), and junior Jessica Slayton (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central). Uebelhor also received Newcomer of the Year honors, while runner-up honors went to Ortwein for Player of the Year and Corum for Pitcher of the Year.

Head coach Scott Fleming will also welcome five newcomers to the program who had promising performances during the fall season.

Marian joined Bethel College, who is the defending regular season MCC conference champion, on the list. Bethel sits at No. 7.

The Knights will open the season in Kissimmee, Florida on March 8-13 before returning for their home opener against Calumet-St. Joseph at 3 p.m. on March 16.