LOUISVLLE, Ky. -- The first USA Today/NFCA softball poll of the year places the University of Michigan softball team at No. 8 to open season, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Tuesday (Jan. 20).

The reigning Big Ten champs received 493 votes in the inaugural coaches poll of 2015. The Wolverines are the highest-ranked team in the Big Ten. This marks the second consecutive year that U-M has been ranked in the top-10 to start the season.

Head coachCarol Hutchins enters her 31st season guiding the Maize and Blue. She has led Michigan to a record seven straight Big Ten titles. U-M returns 14 letterwinners this season and adds six talented freshmen to this year's squad.

Junior All-America shortstopSierra Romero headlines the returners along second team All-America pitcherHaylie Wagner. Wagner, a southpaw, will team with fellow seniorSara Driesenga and sophomoreMegan Betsa to form a formidable pitching corps. Romero, Wagner and Betsa all received All-Big Ten honors in 2014, along with catcherLauren Sweet (second team) and infielderAbby Ramirez (all-defensive team).

The 2014 Wolverines won a regional title and reached the Super Regionals. It marked the ninth time in 10 years that U-M made it to the Supers since the format began in 2005.

U-M opens the season against the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday, Feb. 7, in Tampa, Florida, In all, Michigan has 13 games scheduled with six teams in the top-25.

USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Poll - Preseason

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