Jan. 26, 2004

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis University women's softball team was picked to finish third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason coaches poll.

The Flyers were slotted behind two-time defending GLVC champion SIU Edwardsville and Northern Kentucky in the poll of league coaches. Lewis University finished with a 15-5 GLVC mark (29-20 overall) in 2003. The Flyers received 74 points in the poll as they edged the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for third place.

SIUE received nine first-place votes and a total of 99 points out of a possible 100 as they were a near unanimous choice to capture the league crown. SIUE was 44-11 overall and 17-3 in the GLVC in 2003. Northern Kentucky University received one first place vote and 86 points as the Norse were chosen to finish second. NKU was 36-17 overall and 15-5 in the GLVC a year ago.

Rounding out the poll were Wisconsin-Parkside (73 points), Southern Indiana (71), Indianapolis (54), Bellarmine (46), Saint Joseph's College (41), Missouri-St. Louis (26), Quincy University (25), and Kentucky Wesleyan College (10).

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Flyers open their season Valentine's Day weekend with a tournament hosted by University of North Alabama. Lewis begins with a familiar foe as the team faces Northern Kentucky in its season opener, February 13.