MAAC Softball Publishes Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Individual Awards

Originally posted on Softball On SI | By Maddy Lewis | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 5:30 PM ET

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced its softball preseason coaches' poll and preseason All-MAAC team on Wednesday.

The Marist Red Foxes not only garnered the number one spot, selected by the league's 13 head coaches, but they also picked up the Preseason Player of the Year, Haley Ahr.

Marist is the back-to-back regular season MAAC Champion and has now secured the preseason front-runner honors for the third straight year.

In 2025, Marist collected a single-season program-best 48 wins with just nine losses overall, and went 21-2 in conference play. The Red Foxes swept the MAAC Championship Tournament (3-0), earning a bid to the College Station Regional. The 8-0 run-rule victory over Saint Francis added to the historic campaign as the program's first-ever NCAA Regional triumph.

2026 MAAC Softball Preseason Poll

1. Marist (11)
2. Fairfield (1)
3. Siena (1)
4. Iona
5. Sacred Heart
6. Rider
7. Quinnipiac
8. Canisius
9. Merrimack
10. Manhattan
11. Mount St. Mary's
12. Niagara
13. Saint Peter's

The 2026 MAAC Softball Preseason results are here‼️

Preseason Player of the year: Haley Ahr @MaristSoftball

https://t.co/6y2OfIzLIY #MAACSB pic.twitter.com/0VaC4MAKNg
— MAACSports (@MAACSports) January 28, 2026

MAAC Preseason Player of the Year

Haley Ahr, entering her graduate year in 2026, was voted as the unanimous MAAC Preseason Player of the Year.

The Union Beach, N.J., native led the entire nation in batting average (.508) last season, checking in at seventh in hits (90) and 11th in on-base percentage (.556). In 177 at-bats, she only struck out five times, making her the 14th-toughest to punch out in the country.

Starting all 53 games for the Red Foxes, Ahr saw time primarily at second base, also making appearances at first base and shortstop. For her notable performances, especially offensively, she earned a 2025 First Team NFCA All-Region selection and First Team All-MAAC honors.

THE MAAC Preseason Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/eHRpfwUSZM
— Marist Softball (@MaristSoftball) January 28, 2026

2026 Preseason All-MAAC Team

The preseason All-MAAC roster consists of 12 athletes scattered across eight of the 13 total programs. Marist led the way with three recipients, followed by Iona and Siena, each with a pair. Rider, Canisius, Quinnipiac, Fairfield, and Sacred Heart all placed one individual on the watch list. In addition to Ahr's unanimous vote, teammate Peyton Pusey was also a consensus pick.

Infielders

Hailey Guerrero - Sr. (Iona)
Haley Ahr - Gr. (Marist)
Kendall Reda-Fehsal - Jr. (Rider)
Emma Petersen - Sr. (Siena)

Outfielders

Ella Johel - Jr. (Canisius)
Peyton Pusey - Sr. (Marist)
Mary Fogg - Sr. (Quinnipiac)

Pitchers

Alyssa Weinberg - Sr. (Fairfield)
Sam Kowalski - Sr. (Sacred Heart)

Utility / Designated Players

Sienna Kunze - So. (Marist)
Gracie Goewey - Jr. (Siena)

Catchers

Brooke Acker - Sr. (Iona)

The 2026 slate begins Feb. 6 with three MAAC teams competing in two separate away tournaments. Marist and Siena head to Charleston for the Charleston Southern Tournament, while Fairfield travels to Houston for the University of Houston Tournament.

A full list of the MAAC schedule can be found on the conference website.

This article first appeared on Softball On SI and was syndicated with permission.

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