Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun softball team will begin their 2016 regular season schedule this weekend, when they take part in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

This season, Louisiana returns 8 starting position players, as well as two pitchers, from a team that went 42-12 as season ago, including a regular season Sun Belt Conference championship, and a fourth-consecutive appearance in an NCAA Super Regional, including their fifth in the last six years, and their sixth in the last eight years.

Once again in 2016, Louisiana, ranked #11 in the country, is expected to be the team to beat in the Sun Belt Conference, as they work towards their goal of heading back to Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series for the second time in three years.

Over a four-day period, we'll preview the 2016 edition of the Cajuns.

Yesterday, we profiled the UL pitching staff.

Today, we look at the catchers, which is among the best in the nation.

Leading the way is Lexie Elkins, who hit a .422 with 32 homers, and 82 runs batted in last season.

A senior from Victoria, Texas, Elkins, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year last season, was also selected as the conference's preseason Player of the Year this season.

In addition, Elkins, a USA Softball Player of the Year Top 26 finalist a season ago, was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List for a second-consecutive season this year.

A first team All-America choice and reigning NFCA/Diamond Sports Division I Catcher of the Year, Elkins generated a school-record 32 home runs in 2015, which led all levels of collegiate softball. The two-time reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year has also crushed 56 home runs the past two seasons.

Backing up Elkins will be two redshirt freshmen, in Allie Medlin and Miranda Grotenhuis.
Medlin, out of West Ouachita High School in Calhoun, La., was an all-state selection in both her junior and senior years.
Grotenhuis, a resident of Humble, Texas, was an all-district pick in all four of her season in high school.
Louisiana will begin their regular season schedule on Friday, taking on Ball St. (3 pm) and UAB (6 pm) in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The Cajuns will open their 2016 home schedule the following weekend, on Friday, February 19, when they face Oregon in the first day of play in the Louisiana Classics.

More From 103.3 The GOAT