INDIANAPOLIS – The RMU softball team has been selected to finish first in the 2026 Under Armour Horizon League Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Colonials were tabbed as the preseason favorite for the first time since joining the conference in 2021. They received six first-place votes and 48 total points in the voting.
RMU is coming off winning its first Horizon League Championship in 2025 where it posted a 30-18 (.625) overall record and 16-7 (.696) mark in conference play. The team won three straight playoff games to be crowned conference champs and qualified for NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2005.
Under the guidance of eighth-year head coach
Jexx Varner, who owns an overall record of 152-153 (.498) and a 79-48 (.622) mark in Horizon League regular season games, RMU returns 14 players from its championship squad.
This includes the reigning Horizon League Tournament MVP,
Courtney Poulich; the 2025 Co-Freshman of the Year,
Mary Brant; and two All-League Second Team selections in
Kaylyn Hopf and
Kaitlyn Molitoris.
RMU will open its 2026 season on Friday, February 13 at the Winthrop Invite in Rock Hill, S.C. The Colonials are set to face Kent State, Le Moyne and Winthrop across the weekend.
2026 Under Armour #HLSB Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
Points (First-place votes) |
| 1 |
RMU |
48 (6) |
| 2 |
IU Indy |
33 |
| T3 |
Green Bay |
31 |
| T3 |
Northern Kentucky |
31 |
| 5 |
Youngstown State |
19 |
| 6 |
Oakland |
18 |
| 7 |
Detroit Mercy |
16 (1) |
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