It was an offseason of change for the Loyola softball team.
Former coach Jeff Tylka’s contract wasn’t renewed this summer after five years at the helm, The Phoenix reported. In August, Alicia Abbott took over after five years as associate head coach at Northern Illinois University — and inherited a team that finished seventh out of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) last year.
The Ramblers lost five seniors from last year’s squad, including their top two pitchers — Kiley Jones and Keenan Dolezal — and all-conference catcher Katie Kasubke. With new faces on the coaching staff and in the lineup, Loyola was picked to finish ninth in this year’s MVC preseason poll.