Bucknell University Athletics
Softball's Geffert, Volpe Earn Patriot League Preseason Honors
1/29/2020 11:05:00 AM | Softball
CENTER VALLEY, PA. – Senior Raeanne Geffert and sophomore Allyse Volpe have each been voted to the 12-player Preseason All-Patriot League Team, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. The Patriot League Preseason Poll was also announced, and Bucknell was picked third with 48 votes.
It's the third consecutive season that a pair of Bison have been named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, as well as the third straight season that Geffert has made the cut. The fourth-year pitcher concluded her 2019 season on an All-Patriot League list for the third time in her career after finishing third in ERA (2.28) and third in strikeouts (169).
Geffert was voted Patriot League Pitcher of the Week four times in 2019 and put together a 16-13 record. Geffert now ranks second in program history in career wins (48) and strikeouts (439). The Seymour, Conn. native recorded six shutouts last season and pitched 21 complete games. Geffert was one of four pitchers on the preseason list.
Volpe makes her first appearance on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2019. Volpe became the third Bison in program history to take home the major award. The .399 batting average Volpe posted last season led the league, as did her .442 on-base percentage. She was also second in stolen bases (17), third in hits (57), and third in triples (4).
Volpe picked up steam at the end of last season, finishing with hits in 19 of her final 20 games. In the 14 league games she appeared in, Volpe hit .531 with a pair of triples, nine RBIs, 13 runs and three walks. In one of her best games last season, Volpe went 3-for-4 with two triples, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBIs in a win over Howard.
Lehigh's Mary-Hannah Smith was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year, and Ali DuBois of Boston U. was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Boston U. and Lehigh were each picked ahead of Bucknell in the Preseason Poll. The Terriers were chosen to finish first with 12 first-place votes. The Bison wound up second in Patriot League standings last season with a 14-3 league record and 28-24 overall.
Bucknell's season begins on Friday, Feb. 7 with an 11 a.m. game against Towson in Spartansburg, S.C.
Below is a complete list of the 2020 Patriot League Preseason honors.
2020 Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Mary-Hannah Smith, Lehigh, Sr., 2B
Pitcher of the Year: Ali DuBois, Boston U., Jr., P
2020 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
Taylor Drayton, Army West Point, Jr., P/DP
Nicole Amodio, Boston University, So., C
Ali DuBois, Boston University, Jr., P
Aliyah Huerta-Leipner, Boston University, So., OF
Marina Sylvestri, Boston University, Jr., DP
Raeanne Geffert, Bucknell, Sr., P
Allyse Volpe, Bucknell, So., OF
Virginia Irby, Colgate, Sr., C/UT
Kelly Nelson, Holy Cross, So., P
Parker Boyd, Lehigh, Sr., P
Jaelynn Chesson, Lehigh, So., OF
Mary-Hannah Smith, Lehigh, Sr., 2B
2020 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University – 62 (12 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh – 58 (2 first-place votes)
3. Bucknell - 48
4. Army West Point - 44
5. Colgate - 38
6. Holy Cross - 32
7. Lafayette - 12
