Liberty Listed No. 1 on CUSA Preseason Softball Poll
1/23/2025 1:10:00 PM | Softball
Liberty was voted No. 1 in the Conference USA Preseason Softball Poll. The poll was voted on by all 10 of the conference's head coaches.
This is the seventh year in a row in which Liberty has been voted No. 1 in its preseason softball poll. The Lady Flames were named the favorite in the ASUN in all five seasons in that conference and both years so far in the CUSA.
Liberty senior outfielder Rachel Roupe was named CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, while senior pitcher Elena Escobar was voted CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Escobar and Roupe were joined on the Preseason CUSA All-Conference team by junior designated player Brynn McManus and sophomore pitcher Kaylan Yoder.
This is the fifth time that Liberty has had both preseason player of the year and preseason pitcher of the year (also 2018 Big South – Amber Bishop and Julia DiMartino; 2019 ASUN – Autumn Bishop and Julia DiMartino; 2022 ASUN – Kara Canetto and Emily Kirby; 2024 CUSA – Rachel Roupe and Paige Bachman).
A native of Sharpsburg, Md., Roupe is the sixth player in program history to be named conference preseason player of the year, joining Jessica Moore (2006-07 Big South), Amber Bishop-Riley (2018 Big South, 2021 ASUN), Autumn Bishop (2019 ASUN), Kara Canetto (2022 ASUN) and Caroline Hudson (2023).
Hailing from Spring Hill, Tenn., Escobar is the fifth player in program history to be voted conference preseason pitcher of the year, joining Tiffani Smith (2011 Big South), Julia DiMartino (2018 Big South, 2019 ASUN), Emily Kirby (2022 ASUN) and Paige Bachman (2024 CUSA).
Defending CUSA champion Liberty was voted as the preseason favorite, receiving nine first-place votes and 99 points. Last year's conference tournament runner-up, Western Kentucky, was picked second with 83 points. New Mexico State was voted third with one first-place vote and 82 points.
Louisiana Tech earned fourth place with 71 points, followed by Jacksonville Starte (56). Sam Houston (38), UTEP (36) and FIU (35) were listed sixth through eighth, in that order. Middle Tennessee (30) was voted ninth, followed in 10th by CUSA newcomer Kennesaw State (20).
Roupe had an outstanding junior campaign, batting .362 while leading CUSA in doubles (17), on base percentage (.509), and OPS (1.273). A three-time all-conference performer, she was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team and NFCA All-Mideast Region second team last year. The outfielder posted 14 multiple-hit games, including eight three-hit contests. Roupe recorded five two-homer games, which is one shy of the single-season program record for multiple-homer contests. She hit a walk-off homer in the season opener against St. John's and went 10-for-14 at the season-opening NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic.
Escobar made an immediate impact in the circle in her first season after transferring from North Alabama. She earned CUSA All-Conference second team honors and NFCA All-Mideast Region second team laurels. The righthander went 16-7 with a 2.75 ERA last season, finishing the season tied for the CUSA lead in wins, while ranking third in both strikeouts and ERA and fifth in opponents' batting average. In conference-only play, she went 6-1 with a 1.97 ERA and .200 opponents batting average. She earned big wins down the stretch, at No. 10 LSU, over WKU in the CUSA Championship final and over No. 25 Charlotte and No. 11 Georgia at Regionals.
Hailing from Greenwood, Del., Yoder had a standout freshman campaign last year. She was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team and NFCA All-Mideast Region third team. Yoder went 11-9 with a 2.99 ERA and five shutouts overall, going 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA and four shutouts in conference play. The lefthander led the CUSA in opponents batting average (.216) and strikeouts (138) overall, also leading the CUSA in conference-only opponents batting average (.190). She tossed a shutout against Louisiana Tech at the CUSA Championship.
A native of McMinnville, Ore., McManus finished the 2024 season with a .303 batting average, recording nine doubles, one tripe, hour homers and 22 RBI. She was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team after hitting .313 with two doubles, one homer and seven RBI at the CUSA Softball Championship. McManus hit a grand slam against UTEP at the conference tournament, totaling six RBI in that contest. The junior posted a team-best .556 average with four doubles, three RBI and one run scored at the NCAA Athens Regional.
The Lady Flames (38-25) won both the Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles in 2024, becoming the first team since 2015 (WKU) to win the CUSA championship in its first year in the league. Liberty earned a program-record six victories over Top 25 opponents, including wins over No. 10 LSU and No. 11 Georgia. The Lady Flames made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, qualifying for the Regional final for the second year in a row and fourth time in the last six years. The team finished the 2024 season ranked 25th in the Softball America Poll and 23rd in the D1Softball.com Top 25.
Liberty opens its 2025 season against Radford on Feb. 7 at THE Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla.
2025 CUSA Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Liberty (9) 99
2. Western Kentucky 83
3. New Mexico State (1) 82
4. Louisiana Tech 71
5. Jacksonville State 56
6. Sam Houston 38
7. UTEP 36
8. FIU 35
9. Middle Tennessee 30
10. Kennesaw State 20
CUSA Softball Preseason Player of the Year
Rachel Roupe, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Elena Escobar, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
Ansley Blevins, Jr., C, Middle Tennessee
Bella Perez, So., C, Sam Houston
Brynn McManus, Jr., DP/UT, Liberty
Ashley Phillips, Jr., INF, Jacksonville State
Claire Raley, Sr., INF, Louisiana Tech
Elia Hebel, Gr., INF, Sam Houston
Ajia Richard, Sr., INF, UTEP
Morgan Sharpe, So., INF, Western Kentucky
Kally Meredith, So., OF, FIU
Rachel Roupe, Sr., OF, Liberty
Alexis Gilio, Sr., OF, Louisiana Tech
Devin Elam, Jr., OF, New Mexico State
Elena Escobar, Sr., P, Liberty
Kaylan Yoder, So., P, Liberty
Desirae Spearman, So., P, New Mexico State
This is the seventh year in a row in which Liberty has been voted No. 1 in its preseason softball poll. The Lady Flames were named the favorite in the ASUN in all five seasons in that conference and both years so far in the CUSA.
Liberty senior outfielder Rachel Roupe was named CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, while senior pitcher Elena Escobar was voted CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Escobar and Roupe were joined on the Preseason CUSA All-Conference team by junior designated player Brynn McManus and sophomore pitcher Kaylan Yoder.
This is the fifth time that Liberty has had both preseason player of the year and preseason pitcher of the year (also 2018 Big South – Amber Bishop and Julia DiMartino; 2019 ASUN – Autumn Bishop and Julia DiMartino; 2022 ASUN – Kara Canetto and Emily Kirby; 2024 CUSA – Rachel Roupe and Paige Bachman).
A native of Sharpsburg, Md., Roupe is the sixth player in program history to be named conference preseason player of the year, joining Jessica Moore (2006-07 Big South), Amber Bishop-Riley (2018 Big South, 2021 ASUN), Autumn Bishop (2019 ASUN), Kara Canetto (2022 ASUN) and Caroline Hudson (2023).
Hailing from Spring Hill, Tenn., Escobar is the fifth player in program history to be voted conference preseason pitcher of the year, joining Tiffani Smith (2011 Big South), Julia DiMartino (2018 Big South, 2019 ASUN), Emily Kirby (2022 ASUN) and Paige Bachman (2024 CUSA).
Defending CUSA champion Liberty was voted as the preseason favorite, receiving nine first-place votes and 99 points. Last year's conference tournament runner-up, Western Kentucky, was picked second with 83 points. New Mexico State was voted third with one first-place vote and 82 points.
Louisiana Tech earned fourth place with 71 points, followed by Jacksonville Starte (56). Sam Houston (38), UTEP (36) and FIU (35) were listed sixth through eighth, in that order. Middle Tennessee (30) was voted ninth, followed in 10th by CUSA newcomer Kennesaw State (20).
Roupe had an outstanding junior campaign, batting .362 while leading CUSA in doubles (17), on base percentage (.509), and OPS (1.273). A three-time all-conference performer, she was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team and NFCA All-Mideast Region second team last year. The outfielder posted 14 multiple-hit games, including eight three-hit contests. Roupe recorded five two-homer games, which is one shy of the single-season program record for multiple-homer contests. She hit a walk-off homer in the season opener against St. John's and went 10-for-14 at the season-opening NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic.
Escobar made an immediate impact in the circle in her first season after transferring from North Alabama. She earned CUSA All-Conference second team honors and NFCA All-Mideast Region second team laurels. The righthander went 16-7 with a 2.75 ERA last season, finishing the season tied for the CUSA lead in wins, while ranking third in both strikeouts and ERA and fifth in opponents' batting average. In conference-only play, she went 6-1 with a 1.97 ERA and .200 opponents batting average. She earned big wins down the stretch, at No. 10 LSU, over WKU in the CUSA Championship final and over No. 25 Charlotte and No. 11 Georgia at Regionals.
Hailing from Greenwood, Del., Yoder had a standout freshman campaign last year. She was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team and NFCA All-Mideast Region third team. Yoder went 11-9 with a 2.99 ERA and five shutouts overall, going 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA and four shutouts in conference play. The lefthander led the CUSA in opponents batting average (.216) and strikeouts (138) overall, also leading the CUSA in conference-only opponents batting average (.190). She tossed a shutout against Louisiana Tech at the CUSA Championship.
A native of McMinnville, Ore., McManus finished the 2024 season with a .303 batting average, recording nine doubles, one tripe, hour homers and 22 RBI. She was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team after hitting .313 with two doubles, one homer and seven RBI at the CUSA Softball Championship. McManus hit a grand slam against UTEP at the conference tournament, totaling six RBI in that contest. The junior posted a team-best .556 average with four doubles, three RBI and one run scored at the NCAA Athens Regional.
The Lady Flames (38-25) won both the Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles in 2024, becoming the first team since 2015 (WKU) to win the CUSA championship in its first year in the league. Liberty earned a program-record six victories over Top 25 opponents, including wins over No. 10 LSU and No. 11 Georgia. The Lady Flames made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, qualifying for the Regional final for the second year in a row and fourth time in the last six years. The team finished the 2024 season ranked 25th in the Softball America Poll and 23rd in the D1Softball.com Top 25.
Liberty opens its 2025 season against Radford on Feb. 7 at THE Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla.
2025 CUSA Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Liberty (9) 99
2. Western Kentucky 83
3. New Mexico State (1) 82
4. Louisiana Tech 71
5. Jacksonville State 56
6. Sam Houston 38
7. UTEP 36
8. FIU 35
9. Middle Tennessee 30
10. Kennesaw State 20
CUSA Softball Preseason Player of the Year
Rachel Roupe, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Elena Escobar, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
Ansley Blevins, Jr., C, Middle Tennessee
Bella Perez, So., C, Sam Houston
Brynn McManus, Jr., DP/UT, Liberty
Ashley Phillips, Jr., INF, Jacksonville State
Claire Raley, Sr., INF, Louisiana Tech
Elia Hebel, Gr., INF, Sam Houston
Ajia Richard, Sr., INF, UTEP
Morgan Sharpe, So., INF, Western Kentucky
Kally Meredith, So., OF, FIU
Rachel Roupe, Sr., OF, Liberty
Alexis Gilio, Sr., OF, Louisiana Tech
Devin Elam, Jr., OF, New Mexico State
Elena Escobar, Sr., P, Liberty
Kaylan Yoder, So., P, Liberty
Desirae Spearman, So., P, New Mexico State
Players Mentioned
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