Jan. 27, 2004

NKU PICKED SECOND IN GLVC POLL

Norse seek third straight NCAA Tournament berth

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Great Lakes Valley Conference softball coaches have chosen two-time defending champion Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville as the 2004 preseason favorite. SIUE received nine first-place votes and a total of 99 points in the ballot. The Cougars were 44-11 overall and 17-3 in the GLVC in 2003. Northern Kentucky University received one first-place vote (86 points) and was chosen to finish second by the league coaches. NKU was 36-17 overall and 15-5 in the GLVC a year ago, and the Norse advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second straight season. Lewis University also finished with a 15-5 GLVC mark (29-20 overall) in 2003. The Flyers received 74 points in the poll as they edged the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for third place. The Rangers received one first-place vote and 73 points. Wisconsin-Parkside finished 2003 with a 29-27 record, 11-9 in the GLVC. Rounding out the top five in the poll is the University of Southern Indiana. The Screaming Eagles, who finished 2003 with a 27-18 overall record and a 13-7 mark in the GLVC, received 71 points. The University of Indianapolis (54), Bellarmine University (46), and Saint Joseph’s College (41) were picked to finish sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. The University of Missouri-St. Louis (26), Quincy University (25), and Kentucky Wesleyan College (10) rounded out poll. This season’s GLVC regular-season schedule is slated to begin Saturday, March 20. The GLVC Tournament will take place Friday, April 30, through Sunday, May 2, at the East Side Centre in East Peoria, Ill. 2004 GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll School (first-place votes) Pts 1. SIU-Edwardsville (9) 99 2. Northern Kentucky (1) 86 3. Lewis 74 4. Wisconsin-Parkside (1) 73 5. Southern Indiana 71 6. Indianapolis 54 7. Bellarmine 46 8. Saint Joseph’s 41 9. Missouri-St. Louis 26 10. Quincy 25 11. Kentucky Wesleyan 10