INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis was selected in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) softball title, the league office announced on Wednesday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Indianapolis
- Received 11 first-place votes and 189 total points.
- Won their fourth GLVC Tournament Championship after earning the sixth seed heading into the Tournament.
- Earned the GLVC automatic qualification to NCAA Tournament as the seventh seed, advancing to Midwest Super Regional.
- Coached by Melissa Frost, who enters her 22nd season after a 42-23 overall and 16-12 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selections Cara Cooper, Josie Jager, and Brooklyn Willis, also GLVC Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-GLVC selection Cheyanne Eads
No. 2 Drury
- Received two first-place votes and 170 total points.
- Earned a share of the regular season title and the top seed in GLVC Championship last season, going 2-2.
- Earned an at-large bid to NCAA Tournament as the fifth seed, advancing to the Third Round.
- Coached by Brooke Gajewski, who enters her third season after a 35-23 overall and 22-6 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return 16 members from 2025 squad.
No. 3 McKendree
- Received one first-place vote and 166 total points.
- Earned No. 4 seed in GLVC Championship last season, going 1-2.
- Coached by Heather Tarter, who enters her fifth season after a 33-21 overall and 18-10 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selection Lauren Harris, Second Team selection Sami Huck, and Ellie Vetter, and Honorable Mention Laynee Tapp.
No. 4 Lewis
- Received one first-place votes and 159 total points.
- Earned a share of the regular season title and the No. 2 seed in GLVC Championship last season, going 0-2.
- Entered the NCAA Tournament as the sixth seed in the Midwest Regional, going 1-2.
- Coached by Becky Pearl, who enters her 12th year after a 37-20 overall and 22-6 GLVC record in 2025.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selection Kristen Graham and Alli Wondrasek, and Honorable Mention Anna Frafjord.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 14th was Illinois Springfield (143 points), Maryville (140), Missouri S&T (107), Truman State (104), Rockhurst (103), Missouri-St. Louis (86), Southwest Baptist (62), Lincoln (43), William Jewell (43), Upper Iowa (34), and Quincy (26).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis |
189 (11) |
| 2. |
Drury |
170 (2) |
| 3. |
McKendree |
166 (1) |
| 4. |
Lewis |
159 (1) |
| 5. |
Illinois Springfield |
143 |
| 6. |
Maryville |
140 |
| 7. |
Missouri S&T |
107 |
| 8. |
Truman State |
104 |
| 9. |
Rockhurst |
103 |
| 10. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
86 |
| 11. |
Southwest Baptist |
62 |
| 12. |
Lincoln |
43 |
|
William Jewell |
43 |
| 14. |
Upper Iowa |
34 |
| 15. |
Quincy |
26 |