Ferris State Picked to Win 2009 GLIAC Softball Title

Wayne State Places Second, Saginaw Valley State Finishes Third in Preseason Balloting

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BAY CITY, Mich. -- The head softball coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) chose Ferris State University to win the league's 2009 championship.

Ferris State, a participant in the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball Championships, received six of nine possible first-place votes and tallied 78 points. The Bulldogs edged out Wayne State University, which received two first-place votes and tallied 72 points. Ferris earned the No. 2 seed in the 2008 GLIAC Tournament after tying for the league's best regular season record (16-4). The Bulldogs finished in a tie for fifth at the NCAA Championships in their third appearance.

Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State University each received two first place votes to finish second and third with 72 points and 67 points, respectively. Wayne State was the No. 1 seed in the 2008 GLIAC tournament and finished runner-up when it lost to Saginaw Valley State in the championship game. Ferris State, Wayne State, and Saginaw Valley State all advanced to the 2008 Great Lakes Regional Tournament.

Grand Valley State University recorded 55 points to place fourth in the polls. Ashland University sits in fifth place with a total of 53 points.

Northwood University placed sixth in the poll with 37 points. In its first full season in the GLIAC, Tiffin University finished seventh, having recorded 29 points. Hillsdale College placed eighth in the poll with 25 points, while the University of Findlay tallied 20 points and finished ninth. Lake Superior State University rounded out the poll in tenth place with a total of 14 points.

Each of the GLIAC's ten head coaches ranked the teams in the
conference, but were not allowed to rank their own team. The first-place team on each ballot received nine points, while the second-place team received eight points, etc.

The 2009 GLIAC postseason softball tournament is slated for May 1-3 in Midland, Mich. All games will be played at Emerson Park.

GLIAC softball teams open the 2009 conference season on March 21, when Ashland plays at Tiffin.

2009 GLIAC Softball

Preseason Coaches' Poll 

Rank School (first-place votes) Points  

1. Ferris State (6) 78

2. Wayne State (2) 72

3. Saginaw Valley State (2) 67

4. Grand Valley State 55

5 . Ashland 53

6. Northwood 37

7 . Tiffin 29

8 . Hillsdale 25

9. Findlay 20

10. Lake Superior State 14

2008 GLIAC Softball

Final Standings 

Place School GLIAC (Overall)  

* 1. Saginaw Valley State 14-6 (34-17)

* 2. Wayne State 16-4 (35-18)

3. Ferris State 16-4 (35-18)

4. Ashland 13-7 (29-17)

5. Grand Valley State 12-8 (27-16)

6. Northwood 10-10 (23-26)

t7. Gannon 7-13 (28-23)

t7. Mercyhurst 7-13 (25-30)

t9. Findlay 6-14 (11-30)

t9. Hillsdale 6-14 (13-37)

11. Lake Superior State 3-17 (9-31)

# Tiffin (27-14-1)

# - Independent Division II Overall Record

* - Positions based on conference tournament finish. All other positions based on combination of regular season and tournament records.