EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Great Lakes Valley Conference softball coaches have selected Southern Illinois at Edwardsville to win the league title in 2006.

SIUE received seven first-place votes and 139 points to edge defending GLVC champion Northern Kentucky University, which collected four first-place votes and 127 points.

SIUE, which was 41-15 overall and 15-3 in the GLVC a year ago, returns seven starters and its designated player from a squad that went to the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Tournament for the sixth straight season. The Cougars were GLVC champions in 2002 and ’03.

NKU, which was 55-2 overall and 16-0 in the GLVC in 2005, returns five starters from a team that advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series a year ago. The Norse set all-time records for consecutive victories (55) and winning percentage (.965) in a single season, surpassing the previous mark (.947) set by Coker in 1998.

NKU will feature senior second baseman Ricki Rothbauer, who earned All-America honors last season after batting .394. The Norse also welcome back shortstop Becky Napier (.356 batting average last season), outfielder Rachele Vogelpohl (.352) and catcher/outfielder Sarah King (45 runs batted in) to the lineup.

NKU must replace NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Krystal Lewallen and her 32 victories on the mound.

2006 GLVC softball preseason poll

School, first-place votes, total points

1. SIU Edwardsville (7) 139
2. Northern Kentucky (4) 127
3. Lewis 118
4. Southern Indiana (1) 106
5. UW-Parkside 104
6. Indianapolis 91
7. Missouri-Rolla 64
8. Saint Joseph’s 60
9. Missouri-St. Louis 59
10. Quincy 51
11. Bellarmine 46
12. Rockhurst 30
13. Kentucky Wesleyan 19