2026 CAA Softball Preseason Awards and Coaches Poll Unveiled
Dylan Smith
RICHMOND, Va. – The CAA announced the 2026 Softball Preseason Awards and Coaches Poll on Tuesday, as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches.
UNCW’s Madison Biddle was tabbed CAA Preseason Player of the Year after an incredible 2025 campaign that saw her notch All-CAA First Team and NFCA All-Region Second Team honors. The Seahawks’ shortstop saw increased time as a sophomore and took full advantage with a .397 batting average (5
th in CAA), 33 RBIs and 32 runs scored overall. The Egg Harbor Township, N.J., native also swiped 22 bases, good for fifth in the CAA.
Defending CAA Champion Elon was chosen as the South Division’s favorite with four first-place votes and 23 points. Campbell followed right behind in second with 20 points and earned one top vote. UNCW rounded out the top three with 17 points, followed by Charleston in fourth with 15 points and a first-place vote. N.C A&T (8) and Hampton (7) rounded out the South Division.
Fresh off its first CAA Softball crown, the Phoenix will turn to three Preseason All-CAA selections in Chloe Hatzopoulos, Greta Hessenthaler and Kayla Wilson. An All-CAA First team selection a season ago, Hessenthaler will look to build on her stellar 2025 campaign that saw her slash .354/.477/.424 with 56 hits and 38 runs scored. Hatzopoulos also secured end-of-the-year recognition with a Second Team nod after logging 11 homers, 34 RBIs and a team-best 41 runs scored for the Phoenix. Wilson made an impact in her first collegiate season to garner an All-Rookie selection, finishing the 2025 slate with a .319 batting average and eight RBIs in reserve.
Stony Brook and Hofstra split the North Division’s top spot with 14 points apiece, seeing the first-place votes tilting in favor of the Seawolves, 3-2. Towson picked up 10 points in the North’s poll, followed by Monmouth (8) and Drexel (4).
The Seawolves will turn to Preseason All-CAA selection and sophomore pitcher Crimson Rice to front the load in 2026. The right-hander started in 21 of 29 games last season, going 10-7 with a 3.31 ERA, eight complete games and four shutouts. Offensively, Stony Brook also returns a pair of standouts, All-CAA Second Team selection Emma Scheitinger and outfielder Naiah Ackerman. The duo combined for 77 hits, 48 runs scored and 48 RBIs in 2025.
Hofstra, under the direction of first-year head coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke, will also turn to a returning hurler in Preseason All-CAA honoree Emma Falen. The Folsom, Calif., native was instrumental in the Pride’s valiant semifinal run in last year’s CAA Championship, tossing five no-hit innings of work and striking out four batters in a 3-0 win over Charleston to stay alive. Hofstra will return four of their top five hitters from last season, led by preseason honorable mention Alanna Morse. The senior shortstop picked up a Second Team nod in 2025 following a career year, logging a .343/.373/.462 slash line with 21 runs and 29 RBIs.
2026 CAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
CAA Preseason Coaches Poll
| North Division |
| Team (1st place votes) |
Points |
| Stony Brook (3) |
14 |
| Hofstra (2) |
14 |
| Towson |
10 |
| Monmouth |
8 |
| Drexel |
4 |
|
|
| South Division |
|
| Team (1st place votes) |
Points |
| Elon (4) |
23 |
| Campbell (1) |
20 |
| UNCW |
17 |
| Charleston (1) |
15 |
| N.C. A&T |
8 |
| Hampton |
7 |
CAA Preseason Player of the Year
Madison Biddle, UNCW
2026 Preseason All-CAA Team
| Player |
Team |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Grace Franczyk |
Towson |
C |
Sr. |
Blue Bell, Pa. |
| Hannah Cornetto |
Campbell |
1B |
So. |
Suwanee, Ga. |
| Greta Hessenthaler |
Elon |
2B |
Jr. |
Liberty, N.C. |
| Amber DeSena |
Campbell |
3B |
Grad. |
Concord, Calif. |
| Madison Biddle |
UNCW |
SS |
Jr. |
Egg Harbor Township, N.J. |
| Chloe Hatzopoulos |
Elon |
OF |
R-Sr. |
Huntersville, N.C. |
| Charlie Montgomery |
Campbell |
OF |
Sr. |
Lumber Bridge, N.C. |
| Cassidy Relay |
UNCW |
OF |
Jr. |
Colts Neck, N.J. |
| Allyiah Swiney |
Campbell |
OF |
Sr. |
Hamlet, N.C. |
| Kayla Wilson |
Elon |
UTIL (non-P) |
So. |
Graham, N.C. |
| Crimson Rice |
Stony Brook |
UTIL/P |
So. |
Spokane, Wash. |
| Emma Falen |
Hofstra |
P |
Sr. |
Folsom, Calif. |
| Mackenzie Mathis |
Charleston |
P |
So. |
Lexington, S.C. |
Honorable Mentions: Alyssa Armijo, Campbell (2B) / Carmynn Bonner, Hampton (OF) / Madison Ford, Campbell (C) / Trinity Glover, N.C. A&T (3B) / Lauren Hardy, N.C. A&T (P) / Makayla Huddleston, UNCW (P) / Ryley Kutter, Charleston (P) / Austy Miller, Charleston (SS) / Alanna Morse, Hofstra (SS) / Kylah Reading, Drexel (OF) / Briyana Wright, Towson (3B)