FREELAND, Mich. – In a preseason poll of nine Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) softball coaches, Trine was predicted to finish first overall in recording five first-place votes.

Trine tallied a total of 60 points after receiving five first-place votes.  Alma and Hope tied-for-second after each earning two first-place votes and a total of 53 points.  Calvin claimed the fourth spot with 48 points, followed by Albion in fifth with 31 points.  Saint Mary's (27 points) edged Adrian (24 points) for the sixth-place spot.  Kalamazoo (20 points) and Olivet (8 points) rounded out the preseason poll in eighth and ninth, respectively.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Trine (30-8 overall) was the MIAA co-champion in 2021 after recording a 14-2 mark in league play.  The Thunder will be headlined by the MIAA's 2021 Most Valuable Position Player, Mercede Daugherty, who is returning for a fifth year.  The second baseman received All-Central Region recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).  She closed out the 2021 campaign as the conference leader with 14 doubles.  Daugherty also finished top five in batting average (.439), on-base percentage (.481), slugging percentage (.704), and runs batted in (33).  Junior pitcher Anna Koeppl, junior shortstop Amanda Prather, and senior first baseman Ashley Swartout also return for Trine after earning First Team All-MIAA honors in 2021, along with the following Second Team All-MIAA honorees: sophomore third baseman Scarlett Elliott, sophomore pitcher Adrienne Rosey, and junior outfielder Ellie Trine.

The Alma squad concluded 2021 with an overall record of 23-15, including an 8-6 mark in conference games.  The Scots will look to senior pitcher Haley Ullrich during the 2022 campaign.  Ullrich was selected as the 2021 MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher after finishing the season as the league leader in the following categories: strikeouts per game (8.41), strikeouts (163), walks (47), innings pitched (135.2), complete games (17), wins (15), appearances (24), slugging percentage (.894), on-base percentage (.489), and triples (6).  Junior first baseman and pitcher Emma Fraser also returns for Alma after earning a spot on the 2021 All-MIAA First Team, along with junior outfielder Taylor Griffith and two-time All-MIAA senior shortstop Hadyn Terwilliger who both earned Second Team All-MIAA accolades in 2021.

Hope (25-11 overall, 14-2 MIAA) was also the conference co-champion in 2021.  Senior pitcher Avery Slancik and senior infielder Kaelin Callow will both headline the roster of the Flying Dutch after receiving spots on the All-MIAA First Team last season.  Slancik concluded the 2021 campaign in the league's top five with 22 appearances, four shutouts, and an earned run average of 1.81.  Callow led the league in both total chances (282), put outs (276), and double plays (9) last season.  Senior infielder Arinn King will also return for Hope after being named to the All-MIAA Second Team last year.

MIAA competition is slated to begin on Saturday, April 2, with Alma hosting Olivet, Saint Mary's hosting Calvin, and Kalamazoo hosting Hope.

The 2022 MIAA Softball Tournament will be held May 5 - May 7.  The winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.