BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team is set to begin the 2016 season on Sunday, March 6 with the first two of ten games at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida. Heading into the trip, the Greyhounds have high expectations for the spring.

John Byrne enters his 23rd season at the helm with a career record of 713-221. The Greyhounds return 14 players, including seven starters, from last year's 38-8 squad that won the Landmark Conference Championship, the NCAA Division III Rochester Regional and played in the NCAA Division III Super Regional. The Greyhounds have been picked to repeat as Landmark Conference Champions in the conference's preseason coaches poll, and the team was also selected 22nd in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.

"We have a strong core of returning players that have experience in the postseason and winning championships as well as a talented group of newcomers that we anticipate contributing throughout the season," commented Byrne. "Our goal coming out of the preseason is to win another conference championship and earn another trip to the NCAA Tournament in May."

The pitching staff of sophomores Josie Novak and Amanda Carisone will lead that quest of playing in the postseason. Novak is the reigning Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and was on the All-Conference First Team and the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Third Team a year ago. She posted a 19-6 record with a 1.77 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 158.1 innings of action. Equally impressive was Carisone, who earned a spot on the Landmark All-Conference Second Team after a 19-2 debut season that included a 1.66 ERA, seven shutouts and 105 strikeouts in 155.2 innings.

Moravian returns two-thirds of its starting outfield from last season with senior captain Mary Schlosbon moving to center field and junior Julie Siragusa returning in left field. Schlosbon earned a spot on the Landmark All-Conference First Team while hitting .385 a year ago with 55 hits and 40 runs scored. Siragusa highlighted the last season with a .344 average which included 44 hits and 22 RBIs. Junior Madison Newhouser has moved to the outfield this season and is looked to continue to contribute with strong offensive numbers. Also joining the outfield will be freshmen Ashley Gindle and Kat Spilman, who has also been working with the infielders.

The Greyhounds also have experience behind the plate with sophomore captain Janae Matos and junior Niki Maffettone, both of which possess excellent skills in handling the pitching staff. Sophomore Jean Markovic and freshman Madison Shaneberger add depth both behind the plate and in the field with Markovic at first base and Shaneberger in the infield.

This versatile group brings power potential to the line-up.

The infield consists of a nice blend of experienced players and newcomers. Juniors Abby Jeffries, Victoria Conner, Lizzie Deutsch and Chrissy Marinaro provide solid defensive and offensive potential. All have been key contributors over their first two seasons. Sophomores Jackie Marshall and Jessica D'Agostino also return in the infield and are expected to compete and contribute at multiple positions. Freshmen Kaela Kane, Julia DeMarco and Makenna Masenheimer add a strong talent level to the returning group.

The Greyhounds first two games in Florida are scheduled for Sunday, March 6 when the squad plays Penn State Behrend at 11:00 a.m. and Lakeland (Ill.) College at 3:00 p.m.