NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Augustana was predicted to win the 2011 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) softball title in a preseason poll conducted Wednesday.
The Vikings (31-15, 8-6 in 2010), a team that was last crowned CCIW champions in 2006, won the 2011 preseason poll with 44 points including three first place votes.
North Central (32-14, 9-5) finished second in the poll with 43 points including two first place votes, while Illinois Wesleyan (33-16, 9-5), last year's CCIW tournament champion, placed third with 41 points including three first place votes.
Elmhurst (22-16, 7-7) was fourth in the voting with 28 points, followed by defending regular season champion Carthage (25-15, 10-4) in fifth with 24 points.
Millikin (24-16, 5-9) and Wheaton (21-19, 5-9) tied for sixth with 18 points apiece, followed by North Park (19-18, 3-11) in eigth place with eight points.
Voting is done by the CCIW's head softball coaches. 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 teams.
2011 CCIW Softball Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
First Place
Votes |
| 1 |
Augustana |
44 |
3 |
| 2 |
North Central |
43 |
2 |
| 3 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
41 |
3 |
| 4 |
Elmhurst |
28 |
|
| 5 |
Carthage |
24 |
|
| T-6 |
Millikin |
18 |
|
| T-6 |
Wheaton |
18 |
|
| 8 |
North Park |
8 |
|