Leathernecks tabbed first in Summit League preseason poll

ELMHURST, Ill.- The Western Illinois softball team was picked first in the Summit League preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches on Friday afternoon.

“It's great to have the respect of our peers to vote us first in the preseason poll, but it's going to be a tough road through conference play,” said Western Illinois head softball coach Holly Van Vlymen. “This will motivate our players to work hard to defend our Summit League Title and to repeat as champions this spring. Predictions are nothing more than a measure of potential and I'm confident we will fulfill our potential.”

The Fighting Leathernecks picked up five first-place votes and a total of 61 points to earn the top spot in the poll. Western was followed by North Dakota State who got four first-place votes and a total of 58 points.

Southern Utah collected 52 points in third place, followed by Oakland with 34 points. UMKC took the fifth-place spot with 30 points and South Dakota State landed the sixth-place spot with 29 votes. Rounding out the bottom of the poll was Centenary in seventh (28 points), IPFW in eighth (22 points) and IUPUI in ninth (10 points).

Western opens their season at the Metrodome Tournament on Feb. 11-13, starting with a doubleheader against Minnesota at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11.

	2010 Softball Preseason Poll
1.	Western Illinois	61 (5)
2.	North Dakota State	58 (4)
3.	Southern Utah	52
4.	Oakland	34
5.	UMKC	30
6.	South Dakota State	29
7.	Centenary	28
8.	IPFW	22
9.	IUPUI	10

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