Blaine Kinsey

GoSycamores.com

The Indiana State University softball team was picked to finish 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference preeason coaches poll while the 2011 regular season champions, the Illinois State Redbirds, were picked to repeat.

"Preseason polls let us know where the conference expects us to finish," said head coach Shane Bouman.  "We are very excited about the work already invested in our program to raise the level of Sycamore Softball.  We have a very tough MVC Conference and look forward to improving throughout the season."

The Redbirds earned 96 points and seven first-place votes.  UNI took two first-place votes and second-place (87 points) with Southern Illinois earning the remaining first-place vote (81 points) and third-place. The Sycamores earned 20 points.

The Sycamores will be looking to improve off of last season where they finished a dissapointing 15-33 and 4-21 in MVC play.

Indiana State is set to open their season Feb. 25 when they travel south to face Murray State and Bowling Green as part of the Western Kentucky Tournament.