INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) baseball championship, the league office announced on Wednesday.
The preseason poll is determined by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Indianapolis
- Received five first-place votes and 181 total points.
- Earned the No. 5 seed at 2025 GLVC Championship, going 1-2.
- Picked third in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Midwest Region Preseason Poll.
- Secured 15th NCAA Tournament appearance last season.
- Lost in the Midwest Super Regional.
- Coached by Al Ready, who enters his eighth season after a 34-24 overall and 20-11 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selection Austin Bode.
No. 2 Illinois Springfield
- Received four first-place votes and 170 total points.
- Earned No. 2 seed at 2025 GLVC Championship, finishing as runner-up going 3-1
- Selected sixth in the NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason Poll.
- Coached by Chris Rodriguez, who enters his first full season in charge, taking over partially through the 2025 season where the Prairie Stars had a record of 36-16, 23-8 in GLVC play.
- Return First Team All-GLVC honoree Mark DeCicco.
No. 3 Maryville
- Received two first-place votes and 169 total points.
- Earned No. 3 seed at 2025 GLVC Championship, going 0-2.
- Picked seventh in the NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason Poll.
- Coached by Pat Evers, who enters his eighth year after a 29-22 overall and 21-10 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return Second Team All-GLVC honoree Ty Rauser and GLVC Freshman of the Year Jace Burton.
No. 4 Drury
- Received two first-place votes and 160 total points.
- Earned No. 4 seed at 2025 GLVC Championship, going 2-2.
- Selected eighth in the NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason Poll.
- Coached by Scott Nasby, who enters his 14th season after 33-23 overall and 21-11 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return First Team All-GLVC honoree Jackson Crider and Honorable Mention selection Connor Bain.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 15th was Lewis (141 points, one first-place vote), Quincy (128), Missouri S&T (125), Missouri-St. Louis (124, one first-place vote), Upper Iowa (81), McKendree (78), Rockhurst (69), William Jewell (66), Southwest Baptist (41), Truman State (30), and Lincoln (14).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis |
181 (5) |
| 2. |
Illinois Springfield |
170 (4) |
| 3. |
Maryville |
169 (2) |
| 4. |
Drury |
160 (2) |
| 5. |
Lewis |
139 (1) |
| 6. |
Quincy |
128 |
| 7. |
Missouri S&T |
125 |
| 8. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
124 (1) |
| 9. |
Upper Iowa |
81 |
| 10. |
McKendree |
78 |
| 11. |
Rockhurst |
69 |
| 12. |
William Jewell |
66 |
13.
14.
15. |
Southwest Baptist
Truman State
Lincoln |
41
30
14 |