EDISON, NJ (Jan. 28, 2026) – Reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) softball champions, Marist University, has been picked as the favorites in the 2026 MAAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches. The Red Foxes’ standout infielder Haley Ahr was named as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Marist garnered the top spot in the preseason poll for the third straight year, collecting a league-high 167 points and 11 first place votes. Last season, Marist had its best season in program history, setting a school record with 48 victories. The Red Foxes won the 2025 MAAC Championship, their second consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship and earned its first win at NCAA Regionals in program history. The championship title was the second over the past three seasons and fifth overall in program history.
Fairfield University was selected second in the poll with 144 points and one first place vote, while 2025 runner-up Siena University was chosen third with 143 points and the final first place vote. Iona University (117) and Sacred Heart University (109) rounded out the top five of the poll.
Marist graduate infielder Ahr was named as the Preseason Player of the Year and was one of two players unanimously voted to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Last season, Ahr was the NCAA leader in batting average, hitting .508, leading to All-MAAC First Team and First Team All-Northeast Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selections, while also earning Second Team Academic All-American honors by College Sports Communicators. Ahr ranked in the top 15 nationally last season in total hits (90), on-base percentage (.556), and toughest to strike out (once every 35.4 at bats). Her batting average and hit total in 2025 set single-season program records and she tied the program's single-game record for home runs with three against Southern Indiana, becoming the first Red Fox to accomplish that feat in eight years. Heading into the 2026 season, Ahr is Marist's all-time leader in batting average and she also ranks in the program's top five all-time in runs batted in, doubles, and hits. Ahr has been named First Team All-MAAC each of the last three years and was the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2023, and Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
The remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2026 Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Marist |
167 (11) |
| 2 |
Fairfield |
144 (1) |
| 3 |
Siena |
143 (1) |
| 4 |
Iona |
117 |
| 5 |
Sacred Heart |
109 |
| 6 |
Rider |
103 |
| 7 |
Quinnipiac |
98 |
| 8 |
Canisius |
91 |
| 9 |
Merrimack |
55 |
| 10 |
Manhattan |
54 |
| 11 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
50 |
| 12 |
Niagara |
29 |
| 13 |
Saint Peter’s |
23 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Haley Ahr* – Marist |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Brooke Acker |
Catcher |
Sr. |
Iona |
| Hailey Guerrero |
Infielder |
Sr. |
Iona |
| Haley Ahr* |
Infielder |
Gr. |
Marist |
| Kendall Reda-Fehsal |
Infielder |
Jr. |
Rider |
| Emma Petersen |
Infielder |
Sr. |
Siena |
| Ella Johel |
Outfielder |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Peyton Pusey* |
Outfielder |
Sr. |
Marist |
| Mary Fogg |
Outfielder |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Sienna Kunze |
Utility |
So. |
Marist |
| Gracie Goewey |
Designated Player |
Jr. |
Siena |
| Alyssa Weinberg |
Pitcher |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Sam Kowalski |
Pitcher |
Sr. |
Sacred Heart |
Denotes unanimous selection*
The 2026 MAAC Softball Championship will take place May 6-9, 2026. The six-team, double-elimination championship will be hosted by the highest seed. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Softball Championship, please visit
http://maacsports.com/softball.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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