SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota softball was picked to finish third in the 2025 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll with 21 points, as announced by the conference Wednesday. Clara Edwards and Tatum Villotta were tabbed as players to watch for the Yotes.
 
Omaha was tabbed as the favorite to win the league after capturing its second straight Summit League Tournament Championship in 2024. South Dakota State was picked to finish second in the conference after winning its fourth straight regular season title.
 
Edwards, a senior from Clay Center, Kansas, enters her senior season at USD as a three-time All-Summit League selection with a first team, second team and most recently an honorable mention nod last season. Edwards made 28 starts in 29 appearances as the No. 1 pitcher in 2024 and recorded an 8-13 record, 2.76 ERA, and 121 strikeouts in 157.1 innings pitched. Edwards struck out a career-high 13 batters in a complete game shutout, one of five shutouts she had on the season, in a win over Abilene Christian.
 
Villotta, a senior from Blair, Nebraska, begins her senior season at South Dakota as a player to watch after earning her second Second Team All-Summit League honor in 2024. Villotta was one of three Yotes to start all 53 games a year ago splitting time at second base and shortstop. She tallied a team-high 54 hits, 23 runs and a team best 10 game hitting streak during the season. Villotta had 12 multi-hit games in 2024 and has 39 multi-hit games in her career.
 
Edwards and Villotta were both named CSC Academic All-District in 2024, and Villotta was named to the Summit League Commissioner's List for Academic Excellence.
 
The Coyotes were 23-30 in 2024 and 7-10 in Summit League play in 2024.

2025 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School	Points (1st)	2024 Record (SL)
1.	Omaha	35 (5)	43-15 (14-4)
2.	South Dakota State	32 (2)	33-22 (14-2)
3.	South Dakota	21	23-30 (7-10)
4.	St. Thomas	18	16-34 (8-9)
5.	Kansas City	15	23-31 (8-10)
T-6.	North Dakota State	13	17-37 (4-14)
T-6.	North Dakota	13	14-42 (6-12)