SAINT PAUL, Minn.: The UW-Superior softball team has been predicted to finish fourth in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in a preseason poll of league head coaches, the league announced Wednesday.
 
The Yellowjackets received 43 points in the poll, which was led by Northwestern with 62 points and six of a possible nine first-place votes.
 
Superior returns eight players from last year's squad that finished 18-18 overall and 12-4 in the UMAC. Those returnees include a pair of All-UMAC first-team performers in senior Gabby Gidley (Superior, Wis./Superior) and sophomore Alayna Tulip (Arcadia, Wis./Arcadia).
 
Gidley hit .302 with 20 RBIs in 2018. She led the league with four sacrifice flies, which was also good for 19th in NCAA Division III. Gidley was a member of the UMAC All-Defensive Team a year ago and looks to continue to be a steady contributor from behind the plate.
 
Tulip batted .370 as a freshman, leading the team with 40 hits. She had 10 doubles and 16 RBIs.
 
Junior Damara Theis (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) returns in the circle. She compiled a 7-8 record with a 5.71 ERA in 90.2 innings, while striking out 26.
 
St. Scholastica was picked second in the poll with 58 points and two first-place votes. Bethany Lutheran received 48 points and the remaining first-place nod to finish third. Crown was picked fifth with 37 points, Martin Luther sixth with 29 and Minnesota Morris seventh with 24. 
 
North Central (12 points) and Northland (11) rounded out the voting in eighth and ninth place, respectively.
 
The 'Jackets open the season Feb. 23-24 in the Finlandia Dome Classic at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Mich. UWS plays Marian (9 p.m.) and Northland (11 p.m.) Friday, followed by Edgewood (12 p.m.) and Finlandia (2 p.m.) Saturday.