Softball picked second in MVC preseason poll
02/07/2006 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 7, 2006
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
ST. LOUIS - The Southern Illinois University softball team was picked second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches' poll, released Tuesday morning.
The Salukis tallied 92 total points, with two first-place votes, finishing one point behind Wichita State (93 / 7 first-place). Illinois State came in third with 77 points and one first-place vote.
"They (Wichita State) were my top preseason pick, I think they have a good team coming back," said SIU Head Coach Kerri Blaylock. "I think where we are shows a lot of respect for our team. I'm glad that we're right up there battling with them. It shows that we have a lot of kids coming back too."
Creighton, who won the 2005 MVC Tournament, came in fourth with 67 points. The Bluejays are followed by Missouri State (66), Drake (47), Northern Iowa (37), Bradley (25), Evansville (24) and Indiana State (22).
SIU also placed two players on the Preseason All-Valley Softball Team. Junior pitcher Cassidy Scoggins and sophomore outfielder Krystal Stein both earned spots on the preseason team.
"I think it's an honor, but again, it matters what happens in postseason, not preseason," said Blaylock.
The Salukis return 14 players from last year's squad that won a SIU and MVC record 47 games, winning the MVC regular-season title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.
SIU's back-to-back conference championships and three-straight NCAA appearances are both first-time accomplishments in school history.
The Salukis kick off the 2006 season Friday, Feb. 10 at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla. SIU's first game is at 9 a.m. against Texas Tech.
2006 Preseason All-Valley Softball Team
P - Cassidy Scoggins, Southern Illinois
P - Margo Pruis, Wichita State
C - Julie Darling, Wichita State
1B - Samantha Fleeman, Missouri State
2B - Lauren Cisneros, Creighton*
2B - Jamie Kelling, Northern Iowa*
3B - Stephanie De La Riva, Wichita State
SS - Britnee Barnett, Wichita State
OF - Sara Cole, Missouri State
OF - Krystal Stein, Southern Illinois
OF - Katie McGeeney, Wichita State
UT - Trish Kowalewski, Bradley
UT - Ashley Lynn, Wichita State
* - Received the same number of votes
