BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Campbell softball team, which welcomes three newcomers and returns 13 letterwinners from the 2009 squad that finished 38-16, was tabbed second among league members in the Atlantic Sun's Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released this morning. The league's 11 head coaches voted in the poll, which named Lipscomb as the preseason and tournament favorite. Senior Brittany Stanley was able to capture the A-Sun's Preseason Pitcher of the Year recognition and a spot on the preseason all-conference team, while senior third baseman Robin Leathers was named to the preseason all-conference team.

Campbell made its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and were able to capture both the league's regular season crown (16-4 A-Sun) and the tournament championship (4-0 A-Sun Tournament) along the way. The Camels continued to hit home runs at a historic rate and for the second time in as many years shattered the team record for home runs with 81. The 81 home runs or 1.5 per game placed the team third nationally. The team's 16 conference wins during the regular season were also a school record, as were the team's slugging percentage (.508) and on-base percentage (.383).

The Camels totaled 106 points and six first place votes in the poll to place second. The six first place votes received were most among any team in the poll. Lipscomb took home the top spot with 111 points and five first place votes. Mercer was third with 91 points. Florida Gulf Coast totaled 85 points to rank fourth. USC Upstate was fifth with 77 points. Kennesaw State was sixth with 67 points. North Florida ranked seventh with 53 points. East Tennessee totaled 45 points to place eighth. Stetson was ninth with 44 points. Jacksonville was 10^th with 32 points and Belmont ranked 11^th with 15 points.

The A-Sun voted Lipscomb's Kellie Sirus as the preseason player of the year. Stanley took home preseason pitcher of the year honors a year after being named the A-Sun's Pitcher of the Year in 2009. Last season, Stanley went 19-5 with 1.79 ERA in 156.2 innings pitched. She continued her outstanding campaign by capturing the league's tournament MVP honors for the second time in as many seasons at the end of the conference tournament. Stanley threw all 31 innings for Campbell in Atlantic Sun Tournament and only allowed six runs with 26 strikeouts in spearheading Campbell's second trip to the NCAAs. Following the season the senior from West Lafayette, Ind. continue to garner national attention with a spot on the 2009 Louisville Slugger NFCA Southeast All-Region team as a pitcher. She enters her senior campaign ranking second all-time at Campbell in both victories (56) and strikeouts (399).

Leathers was named to the Atlantic Sun Preseason All-Conference team after hitting .314 with 15 home runs and 39 RBIs in 2009. Leathers' 15 home runs ranked her 15^th nationally in home runs and 19^th in home runs a game. For her efforts in 2009, Leathers was an A-Sun Second Team All-Conference choice.

Besides Stanley and Leathers, the Camels returns three other players that gained post-season recognition from the Atlantic Sun in junior Amanda Miller (second team all-conference), sophomore Christine Melton (all-freshman team selection) and sophomore Taylor McGee (all-freshman team). CU's head coach Drew Peterson was also named the A-Sun's Coach of the Year for the second time in his career at Campbell in 2009.

The Camels will open the '10 slate and hosts UNC Wilmington for a doubleheader on Feb. 11 starting at 4 p.m. at the Eakes Athletic Complex. The Camels will then host Longwood for a pair on Feb. 13 starting at noon. 

2010 Atlantic Sun Softball Preseason

2010 A-Sun Preseason All-Conference

Preseason Player of the Year: Kellie Sirus, Lipscomb

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Brittany Stanley, Campbell