ST. LOUIS – Purple Aces sophomore outfielder Chandra Parr represented the Aces on the MVC Preseason All-Conference team.  Parr led UE last season with 10 home runs, two triples, and 30 runs batted in.  Parr was also solid in the outfield posting a fielding percentage of .970.
 
The University of Evansville softball team was picked to finish 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll that was released by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Wichita State comes in as the preseason favorite to win the conference with 94 points, while Illinois State took second place with 87 points and Northern Iowa received 79 points to round out the top three.  The four through nine preseason rankings included Southern Illinois (74), Bradley (54), Drake (49), Missouri State (46), Loyola (29), and Indiana State (27).
 
There have been a lot of changes for the Aces this offseason, most notably, Coach Mat Mundell now taking over as head coach.  Coach Mundell joins the Aces from the University of Illinois Springfield where he left as the programs all-time winningest coach.
 
UE is coming off of a 19-32 season with a last place finish in the Valley with a record of 7-19. 
The Aces return utility player Mariah Ferguson, outfielder Victoria Dellorto, utility player Danielle Freeman, outfielder Courtney Land, infielder Michal Luckett, infielder Susan Norris, and outfielder Chandra Parr.
 
Evansville was able to add eight transfers this season.  Transfers include pitcher Amanda Blankenship, infielder Brooke Childress, infielder Abbi Fahse, catcher Mickaela Fleming, pitcher Samantha Fleming, outfielder Ashlee Kawall, infielder Morgan Lambert, and catcher/outfielder Hayli Scott.  The Aces are also joined by freshman pitcher Cecilia Dopart and freshman infielder Haylee Tracy.
 
Five tournaments mark the start of the season for UE.  These tournaments will include the Auburn Tournament in Auburn, AL, the South Alabama Tournament in Mobile, AL, the Firehouse Invite in Troy, AL, the Mercer Tournament in Macon, GA, and finally the Oklahoma State Tournament in Stillwater, OK.
 
The Aces will start conference play in their first home double header against Loyola on Mar. 14 at Cooper Stadium.