CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State softball team opens the 2015 season this weekend when the Vikings host the CSU Dome Tournament from Friday through Sunday (Feb. 6-8).

The tournament features seven teams, including the host Vikings, as well as Bowling Green, Bucknell, Canisius, Niagara, Robert Morris and Toledo.

The Vikings play two games on Friday, hosting Toledo at 1:00 p.m. and Niagara at 3:30 p.m. and will play the first of six scheduled games on Saturday, playing Canisius at 8:00 a.m.

CSU, led by second year head coach Becky Norris, returns eight starters and its top two pitchers from last season's team that won 24 games.

Headlining the list of returnees are senior Cynthia Woodard and junior Erica McNew, who both earned first team All-Horizon League honors last year, as well as junior Alyson Broschk who was  a second team all-league pick.

In addition, junior Katelind Phillips, who led the team with a .370 batting average and a .493 on-base percentage, is also back.

McNew, who has been a first team all-league pick in each of her first two seasons, hit .357 with nine doubles, six homers and 17 RBI last season. McNew is second in CSU history with a career .368 batting average and third with 24 homers, just two shy of second place.

Woodard earned first team all-league honors last season after hitting .353 with team-highs in doubles (11), home runs (9) and RBI (25), while Broschk batted .300 with 25 runs batted in last season.

Phillips' .493 on-base percentage last season was the fifth best in school history, as she finished the season with five doubles, two triples, a home run, 18 RBI and drew a team-leading 24 walks.

Other starters returning for CSU include juniors Alisha Silva and  Darien Ward and seniors Nena Doran and Hannah Yoe.

The Vikings also welcome back senior Alex Radjen and junior Susan Knight who combined to win 18 games last season, while posting a 2.83 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

Following the Dome Tournament, the Vikings will head to the NTC Tournament next Friday through Sunday (Feb. 13-15), playing five games in Clermont, Fla.

CSU DOME TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, Feb. 6

Cleveland State vs. Toledo, 1:00 pm
Cleveland State vs. Niagara, 3:30 pm
Toledo vs. Niagara, 6:00 pm

Toledo vs. Bucknell, 8:00 am
Toledo vs. Canisius, 10:30 am
Bucknell vs. Robert Morris, 1:00 pm
Canisius vs. Bolwing Green, 3:30 pm
Robert Morris vs. Bowling Green, 6:00 pm