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February 12, 2009

2009 Season - CCIW softball coaches tab Vikings for third

The Augustana Vikings have been picked for third place in the 2009 preseason College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin softball poll, it was announced today. Veteran head coach Kris Kistler’s team garnered 37 points in the poll after finishing the 20908 season with a 26-18 overall record and an 8-6 mark in the CCIW, good for fourth place. The Vikings finished second in the CCIW tournament and narrowly missed making the NCAA Division III national tournament for a third consecutive year.

Defending champion Illinois Wesleyan (30-11 and 12-2) is the preseason favorite to repeat its championship. The Titans collected 49 points and seven first place votes. North Central (29-12 and 9-5) placed second with 38 points, followed by Augustana in third with 37. Carthage (19-11 and 9-5) grabbed the fourth spot with 34 points and one first place vote. Wheaton (21-19 and 7-7) was fifth with 23 points and Elmhurst (12-25 and 4-10) took sixth with 22. Millikin (14-24 and 3-11) holds down the seventh spot with 12 points and North Park (13-17 and 4-10) was eighth with 9 points.

Augustana will open the 2009 season on February 28 with a game against Neumann College in Kissimmee, Florida.

Voting in the preseason poll is done by the softball coaches in the CCIW. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own team.

2009 CCIW COACHES POLL

2008 CCIW FINAL STANDINGS