Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Ranked No. 18 in Inaugural Preseason Poll
1/14/2025 12:44:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern softball was ranked No. 18 in the nation in Softball America's preseason poll, the organization announced on Monday. Four other Big Ten teams appeared in the rankings, and conference newcomer UCLA leads the way at No. 5 with Nebraska (21st), Michigan (23rd), and Penn State (25th) rounding out the list.
The 'Cats finished last season ranked No. 23 in the Softball America poll and will return seven of nine starters on offense this season, led by juniors Kansas Robinson and Kelsey Nader, both First-Team All-Big Ten selections in 2024. Robinson led the squad with 11 homers and 36 RBI last season and finished with a 1.191 OPS, a mark good for fourth in the Big Ten. Nader finished with a .375 average, eight home runs, and 32 RBI, and her 41 runs scored and nine stolen bases ranked first on the team.
The Wildcats also welcome back catcher Emma Raye, who received Big Ten All-Freshman team honors in 2024, as well as being named to the conference's All-Defensive team. She started all but one game behind the dish, and finished second on the team in home runs (10), and RBI (32).
Northwestern did graduate Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Ashley Miller, but welcomes back graduate student Lauren Boyd, who missed the 2024 season with an injury. In 2023, Boyd went 8-4 with a 2.24 ERA, and her 1.67 mark in Big Ten play ranked third in the conference. She also boasts postseason experience with strong performances in the 2023 Evanston Regional and Tuscaloosa Super Regional.
At the helm, head coach Kate Drohan returns after capturing her sixth Big Ten Coach of the Year award in 2024, her fourth in the last five seasons. Entering her 24th season in 2025, Drohan will surpass her predecessor, Sharon Drysdale, as the longest-tenured head coach in program history. Drohan and her twin sister, associate head coach Caryl Drohan, are Northwestern's all-time wins leaders with 780 victories, the fourth-most in Big Ten history.
The 'Cats are gearing up for a challenging schedule, as they face nine of the top 25 ranked teams. They open the campaign with matchups against No. 15 Missouri (Feb. 7), No. 8 Duke (Feb. 8), and No. 6 Tennessee (Feb. 8) at the NFCA Classic in Clearwater, Fla.. The team then travels to Baton Rouge, LA. for a game with No. 22 Virginia Tech (Feb. 14), and two with No. 12 LSU (Feb. 14-15). The following week, Northwestern will face No. 19 California in the Mary Nutter Classic (Feb. 23). The conference schedule starts with a two game set against No. 25 Penn State (Mar. 14-15), and the Wildcats are also slated for in-conference series against No. 21 Nebraska (Apr. 12-14) and at No. 5 UCLA in Los Angeles (May 2-4).
The 'Cats finished last season ranked No. 23 in the Softball America poll and will return seven of nine starters on offense this season, led by juniors Kansas Robinson and Kelsey Nader, both First-Team All-Big Ten selections in 2024. Robinson led the squad with 11 homers and 36 RBI last season and finished with a 1.191 OPS, a mark good for fourth in the Big Ten. Nader finished with a .375 average, eight home runs, and 32 RBI, and her 41 runs scored and nine stolen bases ranked first on the team.
The Wildcats also welcome back catcher Emma Raye, who received Big Ten All-Freshman team honors in 2024, as well as being named to the conference's All-Defensive team. She started all but one game behind the dish, and finished second on the team in home runs (10), and RBI (32).
Northwestern did graduate Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Ashley Miller, but welcomes back graduate student Lauren Boyd, who missed the 2024 season with an injury. In 2023, Boyd went 8-4 with a 2.24 ERA, and her 1.67 mark in Big Ten play ranked third in the conference. She also boasts postseason experience with strong performances in the 2023 Evanston Regional and Tuscaloosa Super Regional.
At the helm, head coach Kate Drohan returns after capturing her sixth Big Ten Coach of the Year award in 2024, her fourth in the last five seasons. Entering her 24th season in 2025, Drohan will surpass her predecessor, Sharon Drysdale, as the longest-tenured head coach in program history. Drohan and her twin sister, associate head coach Caryl Drohan, are Northwestern's all-time wins leaders with 780 victories, the fourth-most in Big Ten history.
The 'Cats are gearing up for a challenging schedule, as they face nine of the top 25 ranked teams. They open the campaign with matchups against No. 15 Missouri (Feb. 7), No. 8 Duke (Feb. 8), and No. 6 Tennessee (Feb. 8) at the NFCA Classic in Clearwater, Fla.. The team then travels to Baton Rouge, LA. for a game with No. 22 Virginia Tech (Feb. 14), and two with No. 12 LSU (Feb. 14-15). The following week, Northwestern will face No. 19 California in the Mary Nutter Classic (Feb. 23). The conference schedule starts with a two game set against No. 25 Penn State (Mar. 14-15), and the Wildcats are also slated for in-conference series against No. 21 Nebraska (Apr. 12-14) and at No. 5 UCLA in Los Angeles (May 2-4).
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