SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (NDSU Athletics) – North Dakota State, the six-time defending Summit League champion, has once again been tabbed as the preseason favorite for the 2021 season according to a poll of the league’s seven head coaches announced Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The Bison, who six first-place votes, will be vying for their ninth overall regular-season crown after claiming the 2019 title with a league mark of 16-2. NDSU has also won 10 of the past 11 Summit League tournament championships.
South Dakota State is second in the preseason poll with one first-place vote followed by South Dakota in third place and Omaha in fourth. Kansas City, North Dakota and Western Illinois round out the poll in fifth through seventh place, respectively.
North Dakota State junior right-handed pitcher Paige Vargas and senior infielder Montana DeCamp were listed among the Summit League preseason players to watch.
Vargas, the league’s 2019 Freshman of the Year, made 17 appearances last season with a 3.94 ERA in 74.2 innings. DeCamp, a two-time All-Summit League first team honoree, started all 23 games last year hitting .286 with one home run, five RBIs and a team-high 14 runs scored.
North Dakota State is scheduled to open the regular season Feb. 19-21 at the McNeese State Cowgirl Classic. NDSU will host the Summit League Championship presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare on May 12-15 at Tharaldson Park in Fargo.
2021 Summit League Softball Preseason Poll
1. North Dakota State (6)
2. South Dakota State (1)
3. South Dakota
4. Omaha
5. Kansas City
6. North Dakota
7. Western Illinois
2021 Summit League Softball Players to Watch
North Dakota State – Paige Vargas, P; Montana DeCamp, INF
South Dakota State – Grace Glanzer, P; Cylie Halvorson, INF
South Dakota – Camille Fowler, OF
Omaha – Sydney Hampton, P; Jamie White, INF
Kansas City – Delainey Fenoglio, INF/DP; Mia Hoveland, P
North Dakota – Jannay Jones, P; Ashlynn Uvila, OF
Western Illinois – Abby Carlin, P/1B; Alyssa Ealy, OF
