CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Feb. 1, 2017) - The LIU Post softball team has been tabbed as the near-unanimous favorite in the 2017 East Coast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Pioneers, who topped the poll for the fourth-consecutive year, earned 47 points and six of a possible seven first-place votes. Molloy followed at a close second with 41 points and one first-place nod.

Sophomore catcher Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.) was named the ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, after placing in the Top-10 last year in the league in nearly every hitting category.

Seader batted at a stellar .386 clip with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs, en route to garnering ECC and ECAC Division II Rookie of the Year recognition. She also scored 35 runs and had 14 doubles, in addition to carrying a .636 slugging and .443 on-base percentage.

Meanwhile, sophomore hurler Hannah Olshevski (Robbinsville, N.J.) was recognized as the ECC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

In 30 appearances, Olshevski posted a scintillating 21-7 record with a 1.80 earned-run average. She yielded just 28 walks over 190.2 innings pitched and limited opposing teams to a .223 batting average, as well.

Furthermore, Olshevski led the league in wins, complete games (25) and innings pitched, while ranking second in ERA and third in batting average against as a rookie. She went on to receive ECC Pitcher of the Year honors and was named a finalist for the NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year Award for her efforts.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and his LIU Post squad open the 2017 season on Sunday, Mar. 5 at the PFX Spring Games against Bentley University and Holy Family University in Clermont, Fla.

2017 ECC Softball Preseason Poll
1. LIU Post (Six First-Place Votes) - 47 Points
2. Molloy (One First-Place Vote) - 41 Points
3. NYIT - 32 Points
4. Bridgeport - 29 Points
5. Queens - 22 Points
6. Mercy - 13 Points
7. St. Thomas Aquinas - 12 Points