Softball GLVC Tournament

Softball Selected Sixth in GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1/30/2024 2:05:00 PM

The UIS softball team was picked to finish sixth in the GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll, per an announcement by the league office on Tuesday.

The preseason poll is determined by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team. Indianapolis was selected first with 169 points and 13-of-14 possible first-place votes. Lewis came second with 146 points, and McKendree rounded out the top three with 137 points and the final first-place vote. Maryville (127) and Missouri-St. Louis (124) were also selected ahead of the Prairie Stars. UIS earned 123 points in the poll.

Head Coach Shannon Guthrie enters her tenth year at the helm of the program in 2024. Guthrie has led the team to more than 30 wins in each of the last two seasons. Nine Prairie Stars earned All-GLVC honors in 2023 and the Prairie Stars ranked No. 7 in NCAA DII stolen bases.

The Prairie Stars will start the season with five tournaments; three in February and two in March. Arkansas Monticello's Alvy Early Memorial Classic is set for Feb. 9-10 in Bentonville, Ark. UIS will be in Smyrna, Tenn. the next weekend for Trevecca Nazarene's Music City Classic before competing at Kentucky Wesleyan's Blue Bridge Battle at the end of February.

The conference schedule begins on March 16 when the Maryville Saints come to Springfield. It is one of six occasions that UIS will host a GLVC opponent in the spring. 

2024 GLVC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
Place    School                         Points (1st-Place Votes)
1.          Indianapolis                 169 (13)
2.          Lewis                           146
3.          McKendree                  137 (1)
4.          Maryville                      127
5.          Missouri-St. Louis        124
6.          Illinois Springfield         123
7.          Drury                             98
8.          Rockhurst                      82
9.          Quincy                           68
10.        Missouri S&T                 65
11.        Truman State                 52
12.        Upper Iowa                    38
13.        Southwest Baptist         29
14.        William Jewell               16
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