NORFOLK, Va. (January 29, 2026) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) unveiled its 2026 softball preseason order of finish where Howard University was picked to repeat in the league's preseason poll. The announcement came Thursday afternoon.
 
HU tallied 116 points with 12 first-place votes. A year ago, Howard finished the 2025 season with a 31-20 mark (20-1 MEAC) while winning the MEAC Regular Season and Tournament titles.
 
Delaware State was picked second after scoring 94 points, including two first-place votes.
 
Furthermore, the conference revealed its preseason awards where a pair of Bison received recognition.
 
Graduate Taylor Ames-Alexander (Lancaster, S.C.) was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year while fellow Bison Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) claimed the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
 
A year ago, Ames-Alexander won 2025 MEAC Player of the Year as a member South Carolina State (SC State). She led the league in batting average (.421) while guiding SC State to a title game appearance.
 
Last season, Holt made the 2025 All-MEAC First Team after producing 94 Ks in 113.0 innings of work. The Arizona native threw two complete games while leading the Bison to their third MEAC title in program history.
 
Six Bison were named to the preseason All-MEAC First Team: Ames-Alexander; Holt; Destiny Calloway (Evington, Va.); Merci Hart (Los Angeles); Lauryn Jones (Denton, Texas) and Angel Riggins (San Diego).
 
Senior outfielder Maryn Jordan (San Diego) rounded out the Bison, securing a spot on the preseason All-MEAC Second Team.
 
All awards were voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
On Feb. 6-8, HU opens its 2026 campaign in Buies Creek, N.C., for the Campbell Stampede.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.