BOSTON — UMass Lowell softball saw Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) and Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) recognized by the America East Conference on Tuesday, as both were named to the league's 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team following standout performances a year ago.

A junior left-hander, DeCitise emerged as one of the conference's most reliable arms in 2025. She led the River Hawks in innings pitched and strikeouts, finishing the season with a 10–10 record and a 3.73 ERA across more than 125 innings of work. DeCitise recorded 130-plus strikeouts on the year and regularly drew the opposition's top lineups, providing consistency in the circle throughout the season.

Santiago, a sophomore outfielder, made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut season. She appeared in 42 games with 35 starts, batting .268 with 26 hits, 20 runs scored, four doubles, a home run, and 10 RBIs. Santiago added a dynamic element on the base paths, converting eight of nine stolen base attempts, while also posting a .981 fielding percentage in the outfield.

The River Hawks open the 2026 campaign next month as they look to build on a returning core and a growing roster of young talent.

2026 #AESB Preseason Poll

Pl.	School	Pts. (1st)
1.	Binghamton	25 (5)
2.	Bryant	19 (1)
3.	UMBC	15
4.	UAlbany	13
5.	UMass Lowell	11
6.	Maine	7

 
2026 #AESB Preseason All-Conference
 

C	Elisa Allen (Binghamton)
1B	Emma Lawson (Binghamton)
2B	Akira Kopec (Binghamton)
SS	Amaya Carroll (UMBC)
3B	Emily Riggs (UMBC)
OF	Maddy Dodig (Binghamton)
OF	Taylor Quinn (UAlbany)
OF	Thyanais Santiago (UMass Lowell)
OF	Ella Squaires (UMBC)
DP	Rachel Carey (Binghamton)
UTIL	Lexi Powell (Bryant)
P	Olivia Decitise (UMass Lowell)
P	Olivia Kennedy (Binghamton)
P	Brianna Roberts (Binghamton)