BIG RAPIDS – It’s probably not an especially big surprise Ferris was picked to finish atop the standings in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coaches Preseason Softball Poll.
By the end of last spring, the three top teams in the GLIAC arguably were Ferris, Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State. So, in many ways, it stands to reason those would be the three teams expected to be in the mix for this season’s league championship.
It also should be no surprise the voting was close in the preseason poll as head coach Keri Becker’s Ferris squad was first with 78 points and six first-place votes, Wayne State was second with 72 points and two first-place votes and Saginaw Valley claimed the third spot with 67 points and the two remaining first-place votes.
History teaches us, however, that not much can be taken for granted in the GLIAC (especially in softball) based upon preseason polls. After the top three, Grand Valley is fourth with 55 points, Ashland is fifth with 53 and Northwood is sixth with 37. Those three programs traditionally have talented players and good coaching.
Tiffin is a newcomer and sitting in the seventh spot while Hillsdale, Findlay and Lake Superior State round out the 12 softball teams who will play for the league title.
Avoiding peaks and valleys will be important. Generally, teams want to stay at a high and consistent level from start to finish in the GLIAC.
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