Women's golf picked seventh in Summit League preseason poll

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois women's golf team was selected seventh in a preseason poll of Summit League coaches released Thursday, Feb. 4.

The Fighting Leathernecks received 43 points in the poll while 12-time defending conference champion Oral Roberts took the top spot with 81 points and nine first-place votes. South Dakota State took the second spot (66 points), UMKC was third (58 points), Oakland was fourth (57 points, 1 first-place vote), North Dakota State was fifth (47 points), and Southern Utah was sixth (45 points) ahead of Western.

Behind the Leathernecks in eighth was IUPUI (24 points) while Centenary was ninth (17 points) and IPFW rounded out the poll in 10th (12 points).

“I don't put a lot of emphasis on this ranking, but it will motivate us to prove ourselves at the conference championship. We have a lot of talent, and we just need to peak at the right time in April,” said Western Illinois coach Lia Biehl Lukkarinen. “Our team goal for conference is top three, so we need to continue our streak from the fall to be able to accomplish that.”

Western opens its spring season March 10-11 at the NIU Snowbird in Tampa, Fla.

The Summit League Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First-place votes)
1. Oral Roberts, 81 (9)
2. South Dakota State, 55
3. UMKC, 58
4. Oakland, 57 (1)
5. North Dakota State, 47
6. Southern Utah, 45
7. Western Illinois, 43
8. IUPUI, 24
9. Centenary, 17
10. IPFW, 12

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