INDIANAPOLIS -  Going into the spring season, it was Trevecca Nazarene earning the most points and first-place votes to headline the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour.
 
The Wednesday release revealed where the league’s coaches thought all 12 programs may fall into the final conference standings while hoping to qualify for the postseason tournament that will be held once again at Marathon Diamonds hosted by Findlay.
 
The separation at the top was slim as Trevecca Nazarene was voted as the favorite while Ohio Dominican and Hillsdale each tied for runner-up preseason status. All three of those programs received at least one first-place vote in the balloting.
 
The close vote bodes well for the competitive spring standings as teams finalize their non-conference schedules include different Spring Break trips to different destinations around the country.
 
Coming off a 27-14 season in which the Trojans reached the 2021 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, Trevecca picked up 114 points and six first-place votes. The regional appearance is the third for the Trojans in the NCAA era.
 
Trevecca won the Great Midwest regular season title in 2021. The Trojans have also captured the first four Great Midwest regular-season titles and postseason championships, but prior to 2021 - 2016 is the last time the Trojans did either. After winning the 2016 regular-season championship and tournament, the Trojans advanced to the NCAA Division II Regionals for the second year in a row.
 
The sport was represented very well in the spring of 2021 with TNU shortstop MaKray Odom named the Great Midwest Female Collegiate Achievement Award Winner and Malone’s Bailey Byers collecting Great Midwest Female Athlete of the Year. That accomplished pairing along with Hillsdale infielder Sam Catron, all enjoyed respective NCAA Division II All-American awards either from the D2CCA or NFCA organizations.
 
The discrepancy of first-place votes between Ohio Dominican is noticeable in a 5-to-1 ratio, but the Chargers were not voted lower than third on any ballot and had eight votes for second by the coaches.
 
By virtue of the league’s AQ, Ohio Dominican stormed to the conference tournament title while joining Trevecca Nazarene and Hillsdale in the NCAA Midwest Regional held in Allendale, Mich. The Panthers rode the postseason dominance of RHP Sydney Long while going 4-0 in the Great Midwest Championship bracket.
 
Hillsdale will have a number of new faces and is replacing co-league leader in wins Dana Weidinger (22) along with the All-American Catron but also return positional standouts like first team all-conference OF Natalie Stepanenko and all-conference selections Renee Bielawa (OF), Elaine Townley (3B) and Madison Stoner (C). Both ODU and Hillsdale received a total of 109 points in the voting.
 
Conference tournament host Findlay was voted fourth with 87 points after putting together a 23-win season. Tiffin’s new era is ushered in by first-year head coach Paige McMenemy and the Dragons were right behind for top-five preseason positioning followed by Malone, who also enters the spring with a new coach at the helm in Jeff Hite.
 
The same goes for Cedarville as long time skipper Wes Rowe made a change in the offseason. With the program's historical success and proven track record, Kentucky Wesleyan is looking to claw its way back into the playoff field starting the spring voted at eighth. Ashland joins the mix and is voted ninth going into their first year as a conference member with playoff qualifier Ursuline not far behind for 10th. Walsh and Lake Erie rounded out the preseason coaches poll, respectively.


Great Midwest Softball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
 

School	Points
1. Trevecca Nazarene (6 first-place votes)	114
t2. Ohio Dominican (5 first-place votes)	109
t2. Hillsdale (1 first-place vote)	109
4. Findlay	87
5. Tiffin	79
6. Malone	62
7. Cedarville	58
8. Kentucky Wesleyan	50
9. Ashland	48
10. Ursuline	36
11. Walsh	26
12. Lake Erie	14