INDIANAPOLIS- The University of Indianapolis baseball team placed second in the East Division of the 2010 Great Lakes Valley Conference Preseason Poll, released by conference officials Thursday.  The Greyhounds, ranked 15th in the NCAA Division II Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Poll, garnered 70 points and four first-place nods in the vote by the league's coaches.

Northern Kentucky led the voting in the East Division, receiving nine of the 13 first-place selections for a total of 75 points.  Following UIndy in the East was Bellarmine, who was selected third with 51 total points.  St. Joseph's was tabbed fourth, while Lewis (33), Kentucky Wesleyan (22), and Wisconsin-Parkside (15) rounded out the East Division poll.

Southern Indiana was the unanimous selection in the GLVC West Division, receiving the maximum first-place votes and 79 total points.  Drury was picked to finish second and received the final first-plate vote for a total of 61 points.  Rockhurst was slotted third after garnering 59 points, followed by Quincy (48), Missouri S&T (32), Missouri-St. Louis (31), and Maryville (13).

The GLVC Tournament will expand to eight teams for the 2010 season as the top three teams in each division and two wild card teams will earn berths.  The tournament will be played at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois and at the UMSL Baseball Field in St. Louis.  The tournament will take place May 6-9 with the winner earning the GLVC Championship title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Indianapolis is coming off a 43-win campaign and an NCAA berth in 2009, advancing to the Midwest Region final.  Last year's win total represented the second-highest in program history, bumping head coach Gary Vaught's career win total to a whopping 678 in 20 seasons as a college coach.  UIndy's 2010 season opener is fast approaching as the Hounds head south for a four-game series at West Georgia Feb. 12-13.

COMPLETE 2010 GLVC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team (First-place votes)        Points
East
Northern Kentucky (9)                  75
Indianapolis (4)                             70
Bellarmine                                      51
Saint Joseph's                               49
Lewis                                               33
Kentucky Wesleyan                       22
Wisconsin-Parkside                     15

West
Southern Indiana (12)                   79
Drury (1)                                           61
Rockhurst                                        58
Quincy                                              48
Missouri S&T                                  32
Missouri-St. Louis                         31
Maryville #                                        13

^{#Not eligible for GLVC Tournament and did not vote in Preseason Poll}