GLENSIDE - The Arcadia University softball team will begin the 2024 season riding a seven-year streak of advancing to the conference tournament, and is just one year removed from being the top overall team and hosting an NCAA Division III Regional. Looking to continue the wave of consistency for the Knights will be first-year head coach Sarah Birchmeier, who will guide a team the coaches of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) have picked to finish fifth in the annual preseason poll.

"Overall, my expectations are really high," Birchmeier explained. "I know what this team has accomplished prior to me being here, and I have also seen how hard they have been working with me here, so really high expectations. Ultimately there are a lot of variables that we can't control, but we can control our hustle, our attitude, and our effort, and we've been doing a really great job with that. So overall, my expectations are to be a really competitive team this year."

The Knights are led by a three-time All-MAC Freedom selection and two-time All-Region pitcher in senior Juliana Presto. Presto holds single-season records for strikeouts, wins, batting average against, and innings pitched, while also holding career records in strikeouts, and batting average against. Returning with Presto in the circle this year will be Paige Nolan, Mac Champion, and Caity Hinton, while newcomers Lizie Lopez and Dakota Fanelli will look to make an impact in their first season with the Knights.

Behind the plate, Summer Centeno and Taylor Sommer shared the bulk of the catching duties a season ago, and will look to continue that trend. Molly Delio returns after making 14 appearances with five starts, while first-year Breanna Farrow will split time at catcher and in the outfield.

On the infield dirt, Allie LaRochelle had a breakthrough season in 2023, appearing in 41 games with a .273 batting average, setting career-highs in almost every offensive and defensive category, while carrying a .927 fielding percentage at shortstop. Megan Klose, Aleigha Parnell, Abby Jones, and Taylor Migliore return while transfer Sydney Steiner, along with first-year Alexa Kozarski will look to carve out time.

In the outfield, junior Grace Caldwell returns after being named Second Team All-MAC Freedom a season ago. Caldwell is joined by two-time All-MAC Freedom selection Madi Costigan, Angel Schaefer, Nathalia DiIanni, and Zoey Ritter. Newcomer Nora Zekkaria will look to secure time in her first season.

"It's gonna be a really competitive conference," Birchmeier said. "That's the goal; we want to play good teams, we want to play strong teams that are going to push us to be our best and challenge us."

The Knights kick off the 2024 season on Saturday when they face Wheaton College at 1:30 p.m. in Florida. Arcadia kicks off MAC Freedom play on March 16th with a home doubleheader against Misericordia at 3:00 p.m., with the MAC Freedom Tournament scheduled to start May 2nd at the highest seed.