The University of Northern Iowa softball team has been picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll as announced today.
The Panthers return six starters from a team that finished the 2015 season at 22-28 while posting a 15-10 conference record on their way to qualifying for the MVC Tournament for the seventh straight season.
UNI returns MVC Preseason All-Conference honoree Chelsea Ross, who set a career-high in strikeouts (193) last season. Ross was named first-team All-MVC (UT/P) after tossing two no-hitters while tallying a team-high .347 batting average in conference play.