INDIANAPOLIS—Hillsdale was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2024 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) softball title as voted on by the league’s coaches.
 
The Wednesday release revealed where the coaches thought all 14 programs may fall into the final conference regular season standings while hoping to qualify for the postseason tournament that will be held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
 
Three teams received first-place votes as Hillsdale, Trevecca Nazarene, and Ohio Dominican round out the top three.
 
Coming off a 35-21 season, the Chargers earned their third G-MAC title and a berth to the Midwest regional.
 
Head Coach Kyle Gross returns Pitcher of the Year in Joni Russell. Russell had a record-setting season, earning several national accolades. She led the league in strikeouts (268), opponent batting average (.173), and had the lowest ERA of 0.76. All-conference selections Hannah Hoverman and McKenna Eichholz also return for the reigning champs.
 
Coaches voted Trevecca Nazarene second as the Trojans earned six first-place votes. Trevecca has had a successful run in the G-MAC, capturing a league-high four championship titles since 2013. Top returners for the Trojans include first-team all-conference selections Ashlan Sensing, Kendall Andrews, and Anna Bennett. Sensing started in 27 games last season and had the second best ERA of 1.27. Andrews and Bennett both ranked in the top five of the conference in batting average and led the Trojans to a team average of .304.
 
There is just a three point discrepancy between Trevecca and the preseason third-place team Ohio Dominican. The Panthers will look to replace 2023 Player of the Year in Braxton Downs, but return Kaleigh Golden and Marlee Jacobs. Golden a junior outfielder, appeared and started in all 56 games last season and registered a .362 batting average with  68 hits. Golden was selected as one of four pitchers on the first-team after a successful freshman season. She recorded a 21-7 record and snagged 139 strikeouts in the circle.
 
Findlay was polled fourth after advancing to the championship game last season before falling to Hillsdale. The Oilers led the league in hitting with a team average of .316 and return three all-conference selections.
 
Tiffin rounds out the top five of the preseason coaches poll after. The Dragons are coming off of a 13-11 conference record and berth to the G-MAC tournament.
 
Northwood and Cedarville are tied for sixth, followed by Ashland and Walsh.
 
Malone, Thomas More, Lake Erie, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Ursuline round out the preseason poll, respectively.  

School	Points
1. Hillsdale (6)	175
2. Trevecca Nazarene (6)	168
3. Ohio Dominican (2)	165
4. Findlay	146
5. Tiffin	127
t6. Cedarville	117
t6. Northwood	117
8. Ashland	100
9. Walsh	86
10. Malone	64
11. Thomas More	63
12. Lake Erie	51
13. Kentucky Wesleyan	48
14. Ursuline	43