Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Picked Third In MVC Coaches Preseason Poll
01/31/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Jan. 31, 2003
St. Louis, Mo. - The Southern Illinois University softball team was picked third in the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, announced this afternoon by the Missouri Valley Conference in St. Louis. The Salukis received 78 points and were picked behind Illinois State (93 points and six first place votes) and Evansville (88 and four votes) in the annual poll.
"I don't put a lot of stock in the preseason polls. Third is a good spot and shows that people respect us with the seven newcomers that we have. Last year we were picked to finish fourth and finished a half game out of second place. I just hope we finish higher than we were picked again this year," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
Creighton (77) is fourth, followed by Southwest Missouri State (53), Wichita State (46), Northern Iowa (45), Drake (38), Bradley (20) and Indiana State (12).
Sophomore Amy Harre, a first-team all-MVC pitcher in 2002, was named to the 2003 Preseason All-Valley First-Team on Friday. Junior Adie Viefhaus, a 2002 all-MVC Tournament performer and second-team all-MVC shortstop, was named to the 2003 Preseason All-Valley Honorable Mention squad. She was joined by her twin sister, third baseman Haley Viefhaus, and sophomore centerfielder Maria Damico on the honorable mention team.
"Amy Harre is very deserving after the year she had as a freshman. Adie Viefhaus and sophomore Katie Jordan were both second-team all-MVC last year and we thought they might be on the preseason first-team. What really matters is how they finish at the end of the year and I'll encourage them to do the best they can and hopefully they'll be first-team all-MVC at the end of the year," added Blaylock.
The Salukis open the 2003 softball season on February 7 against Purdue University at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Florida.
