The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced its preseason women's soccer coaches poll on Tuesday. The University of Illinois Springfield program was selected 11th in the poll.
 
The Prairie Stars received 52 points in the poll, which saw a tight group of teams between seventh and 11th. That group included Missouri S&T in seventh, followed by Maryville, Rockhurst, and Quincy. Southwest Baptist and William Jewell rounded up the ranking.
 
At the top of the poll, Drury was the preseason favorite, just ahead of McKendree and Indianapolis. The fourth through sixth spots were Truman State, Missouri-St. Louis, and Lewis.
 
UIS will play a round-robin conference schedule against the other 12 teams in the GLVC this season. The top eight teams will advance to the GLVC Championship Tournament. The first round of that event will be on campus sites on October 30, and the final two rounds will be played in East Peoria, Ill. on Nov. 4 and Nov. 6.
 
UIS went 7-7-2 overall last season, and every game but one was decided by just a single goal. The Prairie Stars had their second-best overall record in their program history.