University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Softball Consensus Top 10 in Preseason National Rankings
1/29/2020 5:14:00 PM | Softball
@RaginCajunsSB listed as high as No. 8 among the four major listings
LAFAYETTE - The remainder of the major preseason national polls were published on Tuesday, Jan. 28, and all were in agreement that Louisiana Softball is among the Top 10 programs entering the fast-approaching 2020 season.
A week after D1Softball announced the Ragin' Cajuns (52-6, 25-0 Sun Belt in 2019) at No. 8 in its preseason rankings, Softball America positioned squad at No. 8 and both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball pollsters had Louisiana ranked No. 10.
Louisiana is ranked in the preseason Top 10 for the first time since the 2015 season, when the squad started at No. 9 in both the NFCA and USA Softball rankings.
The Ragin' Cajuns are headed into a season with at least one preseason ranking for the 17th straight year. Louisiana has been preseason ranked in the USA Today/NFCA poll every year since 2004 and in every preseason version of the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, which debuted in 2006.
Entering the 2020 season, Louisiana carries an impressive streak of appearances in the national rankings. Dating back to April 2013, the Ragin' Cajuns have been ranked in every release of the polls – a span of 100 consecutive polls.
The Ragin' Cajuns, entering year three under the leadership of head coach Gerry Glasco, seek to build upon one of the program's most successful seasons. The 2019 squad swept the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships, turned in only the second undefeated Sun Belt mark in conference history (25-0), boasted a Top 10 national ranking, earned the program's 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and recorded the first 50-win campaign since 2012.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns list of returning position players is highlighted by 2019 Sun Belt Player of the Year Alissa Dalton and 2019 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Sarah Hudek, plus two of the team's top home run hitters in Raina O'Neal and Julie Rawls who generated 10 apiece last season.
Â
In the circle, reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year and All-American Summer Ellyson (39-6, 1.11 ERA in 2019), who led all levels of collegiate softball in victories a year ago, will carry the torch once again. She will be joined by another All-American in Megan Kleist, the former Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, who is one of several incoming transfers expected to make an impact.
Â
Louisiana is set to begin the highly anticipated 2020 season on Friday, Feb. 7 at Lamson Park, opening play in the 34th Annual Louisiana Classics against Ball State at 4 p.m. and UTSA at 6 p.m. It's the start of a season-opening, eight-game homestand which concludes with a meeting with Louisiana State on Saturday, Feb. 15 (the Tigers first visit since 2001).
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets, beginning at $101 for outfield seating, are currently on sale and can be purchased by phone at (337) 265-2170, online at RaginCajuns.com using Account Manager, or by visiting the Cajundome Box Office in-person Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and extended hours during Ragin' Cajuns basketball events.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
A week after D1Softball announced the Ragin' Cajuns (52-6, 25-0 Sun Belt in 2019) at No. 8 in its preseason rankings, Softball America positioned squad at No. 8 and both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball pollsters had Louisiana ranked No. 10.
Louisiana is ranked in the preseason Top 10 for the first time since the 2015 season, when the squad started at No. 9 in both the NFCA and USA Softball rankings.
The Ragin' Cajuns are headed into a season with at least one preseason ranking for the 17th straight year. Louisiana has been preseason ranked in the USA Today/NFCA poll every year since 2004 and in every preseason version of the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, which debuted in 2006.
Entering the 2020 season, Louisiana carries an impressive streak of appearances in the national rankings. Dating back to April 2013, the Ragin' Cajuns have been ranked in every release of the polls – a span of 100 consecutive polls.
The Ragin' Cajuns, entering year three under the leadership of head coach Gerry Glasco, seek to build upon one of the program's most successful seasons. The 2019 squad swept the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships, turned in only the second undefeated Sun Belt mark in conference history (25-0), boasted a Top 10 national ranking, earned the program's 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and recorded the first 50-win campaign since 2012.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns list of returning position players is highlighted by 2019 Sun Belt Player of the Year Alissa Dalton and 2019 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Sarah Hudek, plus two of the team's top home run hitters in Raina O'Neal and Julie Rawls who generated 10 apiece last season.
Â
In the circle, reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year and All-American Summer Ellyson (39-6, 1.11 ERA in 2019), who led all levels of collegiate softball in victories a year ago, will carry the torch once again. She will be joined by another All-American in Megan Kleist, the former Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, who is one of several incoming transfers expected to make an impact.
Â
Louisiana is set to begin the highly anticipated 2020 season on Friday, Feb. 7 at Lamson Park, opening play in the 34th Annual Louisiana Classics against Ball State at 4 p.m. and UTSA at 6 p.m. It's the start of a season-opening, eight-game homestand which concludes with a meeting with Louisiana State on Saturday, Feb. 15 (the Tigers first visit since 2001).
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets, beginning at $101 for outfield seating, are currently on sale and can be purchased by phone at (337) 265-2170, online at RaginCajuns.com using Account Manager, or by visiting the Cajundome Box Office in-person Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and extended hours during Ragin' Cajuns basketball events.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
Players Mentioned
SS
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballAlyson Habetz Media Availability (May 4, 2025)
Monday, May 05
Alyson Habetz, Mia Norwood, and Dayzja Williams Media Availability (April 28, 2025)
Monday, April 28
Alyson Habetz Media Availability (April 21, 2025)
Monday, April 21
Alyson Habetz, Emily Smith, And Mallory Wheeler Media Availability (April 14, 2025)
Monday, April 14
