INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced the preseason softball poll on Tuesday with William Jewell picked 11th. The University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the choice to win the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) softball title.

The preseason poll is selected by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.

William Jewell is coming off a 17-31 season, going 9-19 in conference play. The Cardinals return 15 players from a year ago, including six that played in at least 30 games, but will have to replace a six-member senior class that held down key positions for the last several years. For the first time in 141 games, there will be a new face starting at third base after the departure of two-time All-GLVC performer Allison Rawls. In addition, Kenzie Jones, Abby Dubinski and Hailey Wall each appeared in more than 95 career games while Kolbee Kealoha and Aly Manhart also played key roles down the stretch in 2022. 

Sabrina Olmo started 47-of-48 games as a sophomore in center field and returns after hitting .280 with 37 hits while leading the team with 10 stolen bases. Also back is sophomore Ella Hoffman who played in 27 games in her debut season, primarily as a designated hitter, and led the team with six home runs. 

Aliyah Santiago leads the pitching staff into 2023 after posting a team best 3.95 ERA over 72.2 innings with 49 strikeouts as a junior. Jewell will get a boost in the circle this season with the additions of three freshmen, Katie Heckman, Olivia Wood and Addie Bell. Other newcomers include outfielders Sheyenne Kelch and Mya Zavala, infielder Amanda Chung and catcher/corner infielder Grace Woods. 

Jewell opens the season on February 10 at the Alvy Early Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
 

Place	School	Points (1st-Place Votes)
1.	Indianapolis	144 (12)
2.	Drury	133 (1)
3.	Missouri-St. Louis	117
4.	Illinois Springfield	108
5.	Maryville	91
6.	Rockhurst	87
7.	McKendree	85
8.	Lewis	65
9.	Missouri S&T	52
10.	Quincy	46
11.	William Jewell	43
12.	Truman State	31
13.	Southwest Baptist	12