FREELAND, Mich. – In a preseason poll of nine Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) softball coaches, Trine received six first-place votes as the Thunder were predicted to finish first overall.  Trine was ranked 22nd nationally in the season-opening National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top-25 coaches poll on February 3, 2021.

The 2020 regular season was cancelled due to COVID-19.  Trine, the 2019 MIAA regular-season champion, tallied 61 points to claim the No. 1 spot in the poll.  Calvin (54 points) earned two first-place votes for second, while Hope (51 points) received the remaining first-place vote for third.  Alma was predicted to finish fourth (41 points), edging Saint Mary's with 40 points.  Adrian was tabbed-for-sixth with 30 points.  Albion (18 points), Kalamazoo (16 points), and Olivet (13 points) rounded out the poll.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Trine previously advanced to the final round of the 2019 NCAA Softball Championship, posting a 2-2 record to finish tied-for-third overall.  Returning for the Thunder in 2021 are senior pitcher Hannah Kampmann, senior second baseman Mercede Daugherty and sophomore shortstop/second baseman Amanda Prather.

Calvin prevailed as the 2019 MIAA Tournament champion and advanced to their second-consecutive NCAA Championship. Back for the Knights are 2019 First-Team All-MIAA selections Ellie Borst (senior, pitcher), Hannah Horvath (senior, infielder), and Grace Stock (senior, catcher).  The returning 2019 Second-Team All-MIAA returning players include Hannah Biddlecome (junior, outfielder) and Kayla Groen (senior, outfielder).

Hope returns senior infielder Savannah Dixon, who garnered First-Team All-MIAA accolades in 2019, as well as 2019 Second-Team All-MIAA selections senior Morgann Kanouse and junior Arinn King.

MIAA competition is slated to begin on Tuesday, March 23rd, with Alma at Olivet, Saint Mary's at Calvin, Kalamazoo at Hope, Adrian at Albion, and Trine with the bye.