Northern Iowa Tops Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll for Third Consecutive Season

The following release information was issued by the Missouri Valley Conference and information and photos courtesy of the Missouri Valley Conference…

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Northern Iowa, the 2023 Missouri Valley regular season champion, earned the top spot in the MVC Preseason Poll for the third consecutive season.

The Panthers earned 10 first-place votes to finish first in the poll. Southern Illinois, which captured the 2023 MVC Tournament title, finished second in the poll while Missouri State finished third.

2023 MVC regular season champs top the preseason poll with 10 first place votes. Southern Illinois, the reigning MVC tournament champs are right behind. Missouri State slots in 3rd with one first place vote. Illinois State follows behind in fourth, Indiana State placed fifth and Belmont and Murray State tied for sixth place. Drake was eighth in the poll, Evansville placed ninth and Bradley, UIC and Valparaiso round out the preseason poll.

2024 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll

1. Northern Iowa (10) 141 pts; 2. Southern Illinois (1) 124 pts; 3. Missouri State (1) 119 pts; 4. Illinois State 113 pts; 5. Indiana State 98 pts; 6t. Belmont 72 pts; 6t. Murray State 72 pts; 8. Drake 59 pts; 9. Evansville 47 pts; 10. Bradley 39 pts; 11. UIC 37 pts; 12. Valparaiso 15 pts

The MVC also announced the Preseason All-MVC team with Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois leading the way with four players having been selected.

2024 Preseason All-MVC

Samantha Heyer, P, Northern Iowa

Madi Eberle, P, Southern Illinois

Alexi Pupillo, C, Northern Iowa

Isabella Henning, 1B, Indiana State

Taylor Hogan, 2B, Northern Iowa

Olivia Krehbiel, 3B, Missouri State

Jackie Lis, SS, Southern Illinois

Mckenzie Vaughan, UTL/P, Missouri State

Addison McElrath, DP/UTL, Northern Iowa

Elizabeth Warwick, OF, Southern Illinois

Madison Parks, OF, Northern Iowa

Emma Austin, OF, Southern Illinois

The Missouri Valley Conference

Northern Iowa

• UNI, the back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Champions, returns both the 2023 MVC Pitcher of the Year, Samantha Heyer, and the 2023 MVC Freshman of the Year, Alexis Pupillo, as the Panthers look to defend their regular season crown. Last season Heyer made 38 appearances, compiling a 23-5 record with a 1.61 ERA in 170 innings pitched and three saves. Pupillo started all 51 games at catcher for the Panthers and recorded an MVC-best .412 batting average with a team and conference-leading 66 hits, 49 RBIs, 17 home runs, a team-best 14 doubles and two triples

Southern Illinois

• The Southern Illinois Salukis are coming off their 15th NCAA Tournament Appearance after winning the 2023 MVC Tournament. Southern returns all but three players from last year’s roster including six 2023 All-MVC recipients. Sophomore Jackie Lis and Senior Elizabeth Warwick were both named to D1Softball’s 2024 preseason power rankings for their respective positions with Lis as the No. 9 shortstop and Warwick at No. 45 in the list of outfielders

Missouri State

• Missouri State softball returns 14 players from last year’s 31-20 squad, including all five pitchers from last season’s staff. The group of returners is also highlighted by the Bears’ top two hitters and NFCA All-Region selections from a year ago in McKenzie Vaughan and Olivia Krehbiel. MSU’s group of newcomers consists of five freshmen and one transfer

Illinois State

• Illinois State softball returns All-MVC Second Team honorees, Abby Knight and Delainey Bryant, All-MVC Defensive Team selection, Jayden Standish, as well as key leadership in fifth-year, Kaili Chval

Indiana State

• After a record-breaking season, Mike Perniciaro enters his seventh season as head coach of the Sycamores where he will have to replace the production of graduates Olivia Patton, Lexi Benko, TeAnn Bringle, Cassie Thomerson, and Annie Tokarek who were key pieces for ISU in previous seasons. The Sycamores return 14 players from last year’s roster while adding 8 freshmen and junior transfer Anna Macha (OF). Four seniors who are a huge aspect of this 2024 team are Isabella Henning (1B), Danielle Henning (UT), Kennedy Shade (IF), and Abi Chipps (UT), who helped lead the Sycamores to the MVC Championship in the 2023 season in addition to setting a program record for most wins in a season (32) and most Valley wins in a season (17). Isabella Henning was ranked No.15 in the D1 Softball rankings for first basemen as well as First Team All-MVC after hitting a team-high .378 last season with 65 hits including 12 doubles and 10 home runs

Belmont

• Belmont enters the season with two key returners, Abi Ledbetter and Maya Johnson. Ledbetter, reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year and member of the MVC All-Defensive Team, posted 257 putouts while averaging a .978 fielding percentage last season. Johnson, MVC All-Second Team, compiled a 10-4 record while averaging a 2.62 ERA last season

Murray State

• Racers Softball features 10 new faces which includes eight freshmen in their 21-player roster. Senior catcher Taylor Jackson returns for the Racers. She was named MVC All-Defensive team last year after posting 371 putouts through the season

Drake

• Drake is entering a new era on the softball diamond as the Bulldogs have a new head coach for the first time since 2003. Lindsay Diehl takes the reigns of the Bulldog softball program after a successful stint at junior college power Indian Hills. Diehl replaces long-time coach Rich Calvert after he moved on from the team after last season

Evansville

• Evansville’s 2024 squad brings back a wealth of experience with 20 players from last year’s team coming back. The entire regular starting lineup from 2023 returns including 5th-year player Hannah Hood and Jess Willsey, who had the top batting average for the Purple Aces

Bradley

• Bradley’s 2024 offense boasts greater depth with the return of sophomore Lauren DeRolf, who led the team in batting average, hits, and total bases. The on base and slugging leader in Bailey Sample returns along with Abbott Badgley who led the team in home runs

UIC

• After 168.2 inning in the circle in the 2023 season, UIC’s Christina Toniolo returns to the circle for the Flames for a final season of play. The Crystal Lake native has collected 250 strikeouts in her 115 appearances in the circle during her career at UIC

Valparaiso

• Nearly half of Valpo’s 21-player roster is new to the program this season. The Beacons welcome eight true freshmen and one transfer to join 12 returnees for the 2024 campaign

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