Complete GLVC Preseason Poll Release (pdf.)
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team has been picked to finish seventh in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in a vote by the league’s coaches.
USI garnered 114 points, one point behind sixth-place Missouri University of Science & Technology, nine points ahead of eighth-place Bellarmine University.
Defending NCAA II Midwest Region champion University of Indianapolis garnered 14 first-place votes as it was picked to finish first, while Quincy University and defending GLVC Tournament champion Northern Kentucky University were picked to finish second and third, respectively.
Lewis University (fourth) and defending GLVC regular-season champion University of Missouri-St. Louis (fifth) rounded out the top five, while the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (ninth) and Saint Joseph’s College (10th) rounded out the top 10. Rockhurst University (11th), Drury University (12th), Kentucky Wesleyan College (13th), the University of Illinois-Springfield (14th), and Maryville University (15th) completed the poll.
USI, which was 18-33 overall and 8-15 in the GLVC a year ago, return seven position starters and its top two pitchers from last year’s squad. The Eagles ended the 2009 campaign by winning five of their last six games, including a season-ending sweep of Indianapolis. USI also posted wins over NCAA II World Series participant Le Moyne College and NCAA II Midwest Region sub-Tournament host Ashland University.
The Eagles begin the 2010 season February 19-21 at the University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout in Decatur, Alabama. USI opens its home schedule with its GLVC-opener March 6 when it hosts Missouri S&T.