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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Valdosta State softball team learned Wednesday that it was selected fifth in the 2024 Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced by the league office.

Alabama Huntsville was tabbed the league favorite with 143 points and 11 first-place votes, while Mississippi College was second in the poll with the final two first-place nods and 123 points. West Alabama rounded out the top three with 120 points.

Auburn Montgomery was picked fourth with 118 points, while Valdosta State was selected fifth (102), followed by West Florida (87), Union (74), Montevallo (71), Lee (51), and West Georgia (46). Delta State checked in at 11th with 41 points, followed by Christian Brothers (21) and Shorter with 17 points rounded out the poll.

The Blazers finished the 2023 season with a 34-16 record overall and a 19-11 mark in GSC play as they finished fifth in the league standings. Last season, VSU made it to the GSC Championship tournament, falling in the hard-fought opener to AUM 10-4 before bouncing back against West Florida in an elimination game, 8-4. The Blazers’ 2023 campaign ended up coming to an end at the hands of Mississippi College 13-1 on the third day of the GSC tournament. Valdosta State head coach Thomas Macera returns for his 19th season at VSU with a 771-239-2 record, while he is 977-313-2 overall in stints at Thomas University, Lynn and Valdosta State.

Macera welcomes back several players from 2023, including junior outfielder Abby Sulte, senior outfielder Morgan Hill, sophomore infielder Jayme Prandine, senior infielder Aniston Gano, senior infielder Katie Proctor and sophomore outfielder Jasmin Stewart among others.

The team also learned Wednesday that Sulte was named to the Preseason All-GSC team. Last season, Sulte earned multiple accolades including First Team All-GSC at-large as well as Second Team NFCA All-Region. She also earned GSC Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger/NFCA DII Player of the week honors on 3/14/23. Sulte went 53 of 140 for a team-high .379 batting average. She had two doubles, 20 home runs and 55 RBI through 50 games.

Macera added the services of several key newcomers, including a few transfers in junior Sydney Ray of Tallahassee CC, junior Brandie Seber out of Pensacola State College, junior Sierrah Snook from St. Petersburg College, and graduate student Nadia Zenteno who attended Florida A&M among others. Last season at pitcher, Ray recorded a 4-3 record with four complete games and 75 innings pitched, tallying 60 strikeouts while Zenteno tallied 53 strikeouts and 53 walks with 10 complete games, and two shutouts over 110.1 innings pitched at Florida A&M. Meanwhile, Seber Played in 38 games at Pensacola State College at SS/UTL, recording a .261 batting average with 22 runs, 23 hits, six doubles, one home run, 15 RBI and two stolen bases. Snook played in 48 games in 2023 at St. Petersburg College, recording a .585 average with 96 hits, 54 runs, seven doubles and 38 stolen bases. She was named to the Division I All-FCSAA/ NJCAA Region-8 First Team in 2023.

A couple of other fresh faces Blazer Nation should keep an eye out for include freshman Toree Wofford and Syren Letiza. Wofford, a native of Dallas, Ga. attended Villa Rica Highschool where she recorded a .480 batting average with 51 runs, 47 hits, 43 RBI, 15 doubles, one triple and eight home runs in 2022-23 while Letiza made the trip to Valdosta State from Innisfail, Australia to play infield under head coach Thomas Macera.

The Blazers are set to open the 2024 season in the Gulf Shores Invitational where the Blazers will face off with some of the top teams in the nation. VSU opens play on Friday, Feb. 2, taking on Lubbock Christian at 11:30 a.m. ET and Spring Hill at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Blazers will then face the reigning National Champions, No. 1 Georgia College on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. ET before taking on regional foe No. 18 Saint Leo at 1:30 p.m. ET. Valdosta State closes out the weekend with a Sunday morning showdown with No. 5 Nova Southeastern on Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. ET.

VSU kicks off the home stretch on Wednesday, Feb. 14 with a doubleheader against West Florida at 2 p.m. The Blazers have a total of 21 home games this season and fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.vstateblazers.com.