SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior softball team was slated to finish second in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in 2024, as the league revealed its preseason poll in an announcement Thursday.
 
The Yellowjackets received 41 points and a first-place vote among UMAC head coaches. Leading the poll with 49 votes and seven first-place votes was Bethany Lutheran, a team the 'Jackets defeated last season to secure their second conference title in three seasons.
 
UWS welcomes five newcomers to the program in 2024, while returning key players in sophomores Larissa Snyder (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) and MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) and junior Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson).
 
Snyder made an immediate impact for the Yellowjackets last season, starting in 40-of-44 games as a freshman on her way to an All-UMAC First Team selection. She boasted a batting average of .351 with two home runs, three triples and eight doubles. She finished second on the team with 16 stolen bases, while holding an on-base percentage of .415.
 
Leccia also stepped up in a major way during her debut season, starting 43-of-44 games ranging centerfield. Offensively she batted .415, tallying 51 base hits with 11 doubles and four home runs. Additionally, she held a slugging percentage of .602 and an on-base percentage of .451. Defensively she led the team with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 65 attempts, leading to her honorable mention citation from the conference.
 
Thomson led the 'Jacket offense last season, earning her an All-UMAC First Team selection. Finishing with a .431 batting average, she collected 62 hits with 14 extra-base hits starting in all 44 games. Thomson finished with a .604 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .478, while also holding a .981 fielding percentage in 264 chances.
 
Northwestern accumulated 39 votes in third place, followed by Minnesota Morris and Crown who tallied 29 and 24 points, respectively. Rounding out the circuit was Martin Luther (17), Northland (15) and North Central (10).
 
The Yellowjackets commence the 2024 season at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational, facing off against the tournament-host Titans at 10 a.m.