Wichita State named MVC softball preseason favorite
Wichita State is the favorite in what Missouri Valley Conference softball coaches see as a close race.
The Shockers received three first-place votes and 84 points in voting by coaches. Second-place Missouri State earned four first-place votes and 76 points, followed by Northern Iowa with one first-place vote and 74 points. Indiana State, which won the MVC Tournament in 2015, also received a first-place vote. Defending champion Drake is fourth with 72 points.
WSU first baseman Cacy Williams, outfielder Brittany Fortner and third baseman Mackenzie Wright were named to the preaseason All-MVC team. The Shockers went 34-23 last season, 16-11 in the MVC to finish fourth.
WSU opens the season on Feb. 12 against Colorado State and Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
MVC preseason softball poll
1. Wichita State (3 first-place votes) 84 points
2. Missouri State (4) 76
3. Northern Iowa (1) 74
4. Drake 72
5. Illinois State 70
T6. Indiana State (1) 55
Southern Illinois 5
8. Bradley 32
9. Loyola 21
10. Evansville 11
All-MVC preseason
Cacy Williams, Wichita State 1B
Kassie Brown, Indiana State 2B
Mackenzie Wright, Wichita State 3B
Erin Duewel, Missouri State SS
Jordan de los Reyes, Illinois State C
Chelsea Ross, UNI UT/P
Danielle Freeman, Evansville UT
Brittany Fortner, Wichita State OF
Annie Heineman, Illinois State OF
Erika Hansen, Bradley OF
Erica Velasquez Zimmer, Missouri State OF
Nicole Newman, Drake P
Erin Struemph, Missouri State P
This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Wichita State named MVC softball preseason favorite."