Feb. 14, 2006

In a poll taken among the conference women's softball coaches and sports information personnel, the 2006 SWAC Preseason Softball Teams and Predicted Orders of Finish were announced Tuesday evening.

Senior Jamila Taylor, sophomore Brittany Richardson and junior Candice Stevens all were chosen to the first-team. Senior Jayme Roberts earned second-team honors.

The Southern Jaguars garnered 15 first place votes en route to 89 points as they were picked to win the Western Division. Texas Southern (four first-place votes) received 73 points for second while Prairie View was chosen third (58 points). Grambling State (38 pts) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (27 pts) rounded out the list. Mississippi Valley State had six players to receive preseason honors (four first-team selections). Southern had three first-team selections en route to four preseason selections chosen. Alcorn State and Alabama A&M each had three while Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M each had two. Alabama State and Grambling State had one selection each.

A complete list of the team is listed below:

First Team

P- Krista Muller Alcorn State

P- Jalana Brown Mississippi Valley State

P- Jamila Taylor Southern,

C- Brittany Richardson Southern

INF- Cristal Holmes Mississippi Valley State

INF- Candise Jacobs Alabama State

INF- Amber Stewart Mississippi Valley State

INF- Yolanda Ellis Alcorn State

OF- Balencia Young Mississippi Valley State

OF- Candice Stevens Southern

OF- Andrianne Rocha Texas Southern

Preseason Pitcher of the Year & Preseason Player of the Year -

Jalana Brown Mississippi Valley State

Second Team P- Debra Borcherding Alabama A&M

P- Nicole Henderson Mississippi Valley State

P- Jayme Roberts Southern

C- Becky Mason Alcorn State

INF- LaRae Lucero Alabama A&M

INF- Candy Shumpert Mississippi Valley State

INF- Amberly Fuller Prairie View A&M

INF- Natalie Rameriz Texas Southern

OF- Jessica Jackson Alabama A&M

OF- Mandy Young Grambling State

OF- Nikki Lilly Prairie View A&M

Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes in parenthesis)

Eastern Division

1 Mississippi Valley State (18) 94 pts

2. Alabama A&M 66 pts

3. Alcorn State (1) 51 pts

4. Jackson State 41 pts

5. Alabama State 33 pts

Western Division

1. Southern (15) 89 pts

2. Texas Southern (4) 73 pts

3. Prairie View 58 pts

4. Grambling State 38 pts

5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 27 pts