Rider University

Rider University Bronco Athletics
2083 Lawrenceville Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Division 1 New Jersey Northeast

Private Small National competitor

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Coaches

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Davon Ortega

Davon Ortega was named as the Broncs’ sixth head coach in program history in June of 2017.

In her first season in Lawrenceville, the Broncs enjoyed an 11-win improvement, including a seven-win jump in conference play. Rider’s 17 wins were the most since 2012 and eight conference wins were the most since 2010. Under Ortega, the Broncs offense was explosive, tripling the team’s runs scored and RBIs from the 2017 season. The team improved in all offensive categories, including team batting average, which was the second highest in the MAAC and 115th nationally in Division I. The Rider offense boasted 118 more hits and 177 more bases touched than the 2017 season. The Broncs finished the season ranked 79th in the nation in scoring and 34th in triples per game.

As the program’s primary pitching coach, Ortega’s staff saw a 1.89 improvement in its ERA. Sophomores Elyse Cuttic and Emily Oltman both decreased their individual ERAs, including Cuttic’s drastic 4.62 decrease. As a staff, the pitchers halved the number of extra base hits allowed and gave up 80 less hits than the previous season.

Three Broncs earned All-MAAC honors in 2018, including All-MAAC First Team selection, Toni Nino who capped off her senior campaign by becoming the program’s all-time leader in runs scored in a single season. Nino’s single-season record eclipsed the prior record that was set by Deanna Dovak in 2001. Sophomore Elyse Cuttic earned All-MAAC Second Team honors while Payton Romines became Rider’s first ever MAAC All-Rookie Team selection. This was the first time Rider has had an All-MAAC honoree on both the First and Second Teams since 2013.

In the classroom, Ortega’s Broncs earned a 3.29 team GPA while 18 of 19 players earned a 3.0 GPA or higher. Fourteen players earned MAAC Academic Honor Roll honors and five players were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

The Broncs continued to make strides in 2019, again posting double-digit victories. Kelsey Marigliano gave Rider a second-straight All-MAAC Selection, being named to the Second Team after leading the team with a .323 batting average, .390 on-base percentage, 53 hits, 60 total bases, 25 runs scored, five stolen bases and 17 walks. Her 53 hits were the second-most in the last 12 years of Rider softball since Tiffany Day-Neutill had 61 in 2007. Marigliano also hit .397 with 13 runs scored in MAAC play. Nine players earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors.

Following an abbreviated 2020 season due to COVID-19, Ortega led the Broncs to their first MAAC Tournament berth since 2006 in 2021. Elena Gonzalez and Lani Moreno were both named to the All-MAAC First Team, marking the first time since 2004 that Rider Softball has had multiple All-League First Team honorees. Gonzalez was also named to the All-Region First Team, another first since 2004 for the program. Anna-Marie Groskritz also earned a spot on the All-MAAC Teams, taking All-Rookie Team honors. At 17-20 (.459), Rider posted its best overall winning percentage since 2006 (24-28, .461) under Ortega’s tutelage. The Broncs also achieved in the classroom, with 11 representatives on the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Ortega came to Lawrenceville following a successful seven-year stint at Holy Family University where she raised the standard of excellence for the Tigers, posting a 162-147 record. She transformed the program from one that was only locally known into a nationally recognized program, drawing student-athletes from all over the country. Ortega’s teams reached the postseason in each of her last six seasons including the program’s first appearance in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship game since 2004 in 2016. In her final season at the helm for Holy Family, the team completed the season with a 28-20 overall record, finishing the regular season in second place – the highest regular-season finish in the program’s history. The offense set the record for the highest team batting average (.318), runs scored, hits, doubles, and RBIs in program history and for the second year in a row, finished the season ranked 10th in the East Region.

The 2016 season was a record-breaking season that saw Ortega’s Tigers earn the most regular season victories and the first 30-game win season in the program’s NCAA-era. The 19-7 CACC regular season record was the best in the program’s history and led to only the second appearance in the CACC Tournament Championship game. Ortega’s team entered the post season ranked 10th in the East Region while riding a 15-game win streak en route to the CACC Championship game. The 2016 squad also had the highest offensive output in program history – recording the most runs scored, hits, doubles, triples and total bases touched. The team also swiped the highest percentage of stolen bases since the previous record-setting season in 2014. Two of Ortega’s pitchers set individual career highs in wins and combined for 28 of the team’s 30 wins in the circle. Additionally, the pitching staff surrendered the least amount of walks and earned the second lowest staff ERA of Ortega’s tenure.

In her seven years at Holy Family, Ortega coached one All-American, five NFCA All-Region selections, three Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (CCA) All-East Region selections and nine All-League picks. Her teams also excelled in the classroom, earning NFCA Scholar Athlete individual and team recognition five years in a row, 16 players earning league all-academic honors, 14 earning Division II ADA Academic Achievement honors, three CoSIDA Academic All-District and one Academic All-America distinction.

Prior to Holy Family, Ortega was the head coach for Penn State-Abington College where she was instrumental in the program’s transition from an intramural-level team to NCAA Division III membership. In the team’s first year of NCAA provisional status, the team had two players earn All-North East Athletic Conference honors and in 2009, the team earned the Team Academic Award for posting the highest grade point average. Ortega also spent two years as an assistant coach at Drexel University from 2002-2004.

She was a four-year starter in the Lehigh University middle infield from 1999-2002. During the 2001 season, Ortega helped lead Lehigh to its first ever NCAA Division I Regional tournament appearance where the Mountainhawks face the reigning national champion Oklahoma Sooners. During the regional tournament, Lehigh also picked up their first win in NCAA regional play.

Ortega graduated from Lehigh in 2002 with her B.A. in Philosophy. She earned her M.S. in Communications from Drexel University in 2006.

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Shana Treon

Shana Treon joined Davon Ortega’s Rider Softball staff in August of 2017 after seven seasons as Ortega’s top assistant at Holy Family University. In the same role at Rider, Treon shares the duties as the program’s hitting and offensive coach and she is the team’s primary outfield coach. She is also responsible for team academics.

In her first season at Rider, the Broncs saw an 11-game improvement, including a seven-win jump in conference play. Treon and coach Paul Ortega picked up where they left off at Holy Family, creating one of the most explosive offenses in Rider’s recent history. The Broncs hitters amplified their stats in all offensive categories including an increase from a .210 team batting average to a .273 average, which was second best in the MAAC and ranked Rider 115th nationally in Division I. Treon and Ortega’s offense tripled the team’s runs scored and RBIs from the 2017 season and boasted 118 more hits while touching 177 more bases. The Broncs finished the season ranked 79th in the nation in scoring and 34th in triples per game. Defensively, Treon’s outfielders committed only 12 errors in 138 chances, including centerfielder, Toni Nino, who earned All-MAAC First Team honors.

Academically in Treon’s first season, the Broncs earned a 3.29 team GPA with 18 of 19 players earning a 3.0 GPA or higher. Fourteen players earned MAAC Academic Honor Roll honors and five players were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

The Broncs continued to make strides in 2019, again posting double-digit victories. Kelsey Marigliano gave Rider a second-straight All-MAAC Selection, being named to the Second Team after leading the team with a .323 batting average, .390 on-base percentage, 53 hits, 60 total bases, 25 runs scored, five stolen bases and 17 walks. Her 53 hits were the second-most in the last 12 years of Rider softball since Tiffany Day-Neutill had 61 in 2007. Marigliano also hit .397 with 13 runs scored in MAAC play. Nine players earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors.

Following an abbreviated 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Broncs earned their first MAAC Tournament berth since 2006 in 2021. Elena Gonzalez and Lani Moreno were both named to the All-MAAC First Team, marking the first time since 2004 that Rider Softball has had multiple All-League First Team honorees. Gonzalez was also named to the All-Region First Team, another first since 2004 for the program. Anna-Marie Groskritz also earned a spot on the All-MAAC Teams, taking All-Rookie Team honors. At 17-20 (.459), Rider posted its best overall winning percentage since 2006 (24-28, .461). The Broncs also achieved in the classroom, with 11 representatives on the MAAC All-Academic Team.

In Treon’s tenure at Holy Family, the offense saw a steady increase in batting average, RBIs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and runs scored as well as a steady decrease in team strikeouts. In 2017, a year after setting new program records in runs scored, hits, doubles, triples and total bases in 2016, the Tigers elevated the program bests in team batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles and RBIs. Proof of the Tiger’s aggressive offensive strategy, the 2016 team picked up a 75% stolen base percentage – second highest only to the 2014 team. During the 2015 season, Treon and Ortega’s offense earned what at the time was the second highest team batting average of the program’s NCAA era and the highest since the 2007 season. The 2014 squad put together one of the best offensive seasons in program history including establishing new team records for batting average, hits, RBIs, slugging percentage, walks, runs scored and on-base percentage.

Defensively, Treon’s outfielders continuously raised the bar of excellence. Outfielder Brianna Scotto received All-CACC honors for three years as well as earning CoSida Academic All-District and Division II CCA All-East Region honors, all under Treon’s guidance. Additionally, during the 2014 season, all three of Treon’s outfielders earned CACC All-Conference accolades.

Prior to her time at Holy Family, Treon spent four years as an assistant coach at Penn State Abginton College where she played an integral part in the program’s transition from an intramural team to an NCAA Division III program. While at Penn State Abington, Treon shared the offensive duties and was primarily responsible for the Nittany Lions outfielders, compliance, academics, and budgeting.

Treon earned her degree from Lehigh University where she was a three-time All-Patriot League selection as an outfielder. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-District II selection in 2004 and was also awarded the Lehigh Athletic Department’s Graduating Female Athlete of the year award, given to the senior with the most distinctive and extraordinary accomplishments in her Lehigh career.

She was also nominated for the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Treon was a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll who also consistently appeared on the Dean’s List for her work in the classroom.

During her senior campaign, Treon helped lead the Mountain Hawks to the sixth-straight regular season title, their sixth Patriot League tournament title and a spot in the NCAA tournament. She led the team in hits, triples, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, stolen bases, and runs scored. With her .344 batting average, she also earned a spot on the NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second team.

Treon ended her career in the Top 10 on the Patriot League’s career charts for doubles, triples, and stolen bases. She was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Art with a Graphic Design concentration in 2004. In 2007 Treon earned her Master’s degree in Teaching (MAT) Visual Art from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

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Paul Ortega

Paul Ortega joined the Rider Softball coaching staff in August of 2017 following five seasons under current Rider Head Coach, Davon Ortega at Holy Family University. Ortega serves as the recruiting coordinator for the Broncs and shares the duties as the program’s hitting coach and is primarily responsible for the team’s game-day and mental preparation.

In his first season at Rider, the Broncs enjoyed an 11-game improvement, including a seven-win jump in conference play. As the primary hitting coach in 2018, Ortega breathed life into the Broncs offense, amplifying the team stats in all offensive categories. It’s easy to see how Ortega and coach Treon picked up where they left off at Holy Family as the Rider team batting average saw a boost from .210 to .273, which was second best in the MAAC and ranked Rider 115th nationally in Division I. It was Ortega’s philosophy and vision that guided the Broncs offense to triple their runs scored and RBIs from the 2017 season. The offense also boasted 118 more hits and touched 177 more bases than the previous season. Under Ortega and Treon’s guidance, the Broncs finished the season ranked 79th in the nation in scoring and 34th in triples per game.

The Broncs continued to make strides in 2019, again posting double-digit victories. Kelsey Marigliano gave Rider a second-straight All-MAAC Selection, being named to the Second Team after leading the team with a .323 batting average, .390 on-base percentage, 53 hits, 60 total bases, 25 runs scored, five stolen bases and 17 walks. Her 53 hits were the second-most in the last 12 years of Rider softball since Tiffany Day-Neutill had 61 in 2007. Marigliano also hit .397 with 13 runs scored in MAAC play. Nine players earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors.

Following an abbreviated 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Broncs earned their first MAAC Tournament berth since 2006 in 2021. Elena Gonzalez and Lani Moreno were both named to the All-MAAC First Team, marking the first time since 2004 that Rider Softball has had multiple All-League First Team honorees. Gonzalez was also named to the All-Region First Team, another first since 2004 for the program. Anna-Marie Groskritz also earned a spot on the All-MAAC Teams, taking All-Rookie Team honors. At 17-20 (.459), Rider posted its best overall winning percentage since 2006 (24-28, .461). The Broncs also achieved in the classroom, with 11 representatives on the MAAC All-Academic Team.

In Ortega’s tenure at Holy Family, the offense saw a steady increase in batting average, RBIs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and runs scored as well as a steady decrease in team strikeouts. In 2017, a year after setting new program records in runs scored, hits, doubles, triples and total bases in 2016, the Tigers elevated the program bests in team batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles and RBIs. Proof of the Tiger’s aggressive offensive strategy, the 2016 team picked up a 75% stolen base percentage – second highest only to the 2014 team. During the 2015 season, Ortega and Treon’s offense earned what at the time was the second highest team batting average of the program’s NCAA era and the highest since the 2007 season. The 2014 squad put together one of the best offensive seasons in program history including establishing new team records for batting average, hits, RBIs, slugging percentage, walks, runs scored and on-base percentage.

Prior to his time at Holy Family, Ortega was the assistant coach for the Colorado Respect boys baseball team, where he guided and mentored multiple players to earning spots on the varsity squads for their high school teams as freshman.

Ortega began in coaching career in 1982 as the head coach for the Denver West High School Legion A baseball team in Denver, Colorado. From 1990 until 1997, he coached all levels of girl’s fastpitch (12U-16U).

As a player, Ortega was a member of the varsity baseball team at Denver West High School and Otero Junior College.

In March of 2016, Ortega retired as a Captain from the Denver Sheriff Department after 24 years of service. He and his wife Melissa, currently reside in Aurora, Colorado.