INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the choice to win the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference softball title, the league office announced on Tuesday. The preseason poll is selected by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC bylaws, were not permitted to vote for their own team.
 

No. 1 Indianapolis

• Received the max 12 first-place votes and 144 total points.
• Ranked 16th in National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) DII Preseason Poll.
• Earned No. 2 seed in GLVC Championship last season, advancing to final round in rain-shortened tournament.
• Garnered at-large bid and hosting rights to NCAA Midwest Regional #2 as second seed, going 1-2.
• Coached by Melissa Frost, who enters her 19th season after a 48-10 overall and 24-4 GLVC record in 2022.
• Return GLVC Freshman of the Year, Megan Nichols, along with fellow First Team All-GLVC selections Kenzee Smith, Dominique Proctor, and Lexy Rees, as well as Second Team selection Emily O'Connor.

No. 2 Drury

• Received one first-place vote and 133 total points.
• Receiving votes in NFCA D-II Preseason Poll.
• Earned No. 3 seed in GLVC Championship last season, advancing to semifinal round in rain-shortened tournament.
• Garnered at-large bid to NCAA Midwest Regional #1 as fifth seed, going 1-2.
• Coached by Jerry Breaux, who enters his sixth year after a 37-17 overall and 21-7 GLVC record in 2022.
• Return GLVC Pitcher of the Year, Kristina Bettis, who was also a unanimous First Team All-GLVC selection, along with Second Team selection Rylee Kolb and Third Team selections Lauren Beier and Sydney Sneed.

No. 3 Missouri-St. Louis

• Received 117 total points.
• Earned No. 5 seed in GLVC Championship last season, falling in quarterfinals of rain-shortened tournament.
• Coached by Amanda Scott, who enters her seventh season after a 28-22 overall and 16-13 GLVC record in 2022.
• Return All-GLVC Second Team selection Annie Scaramuzzi, as well as Third Team selections Mimi Bradley and Megan Brown.

 
 No. 4 Illinois Springfield

• Received 108 total points.
• Earned No. 6 seed in GLVC Championship last season, falling in quarterfinals of rain-shortened tournament.
• Coached by Shannon Guthrie, who enters her ninth season after a 31-19 overall and 15-13 GLVC record in 2022.
• Return Second Team All-GLVC selections Danielle Dennis and Jillian Mathis.

Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 13th was Maryville University (91 points), Rockhurst University (87), McKendree University (85), Lewis University (65), Missouri S&T (52), Quincy University (46), William Jewell College (43), Truman State University (31), and Southwest Baptist University (12).
 
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.

 

RK	SCHOOL (1st-plave votes)	PTS
1.	UIndy (12)	144
2.	Drury (1)	133
3.	Missouri-St. Louis	117
4.	Illinois Springfield	108
5.	Maryville	91
6.	Rockhurst	87
7.	McKendree	85
8.	Lewis	65
9.	Missouri S&T	52
10.	Quincy	46
11.	William Jewell	43
12.	Truman	31
13.	Southwest Baptist	12