BAY CITY, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team was picked to finish first in the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coaches' Poll. 

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has a well-earned reputation for softball excellence. In 2011, it appears that reputation will remain as strong as ever on the diamond.

League teams will battle for supremacy throughout the regular season before they travel to Midland for the annual GLIAC Softball Tournament (May 6-8) at Emerson Park.

Saginaw Valley was picked atop the North Division with 29 points and six of seven first-place votes while Ashland was picked first in the South Division with 24 points and four of six first-place votes.

In the North Division, Ferris was second with 20 points and one first-place vote, Northwood was third with 16 points, Grand Valley was fourth with 13 points, Hillsdale was fifth with nine points and Lake Superior State University was sixth with three points.

In the South Division, Wayne State was picked second with 22 points and two first-place votes, Tiffin University was third with 17 points, the University of Findlay was fourth with 12 points, Ohio Dominican University was fifth with 10 points and Lake Erie College was sixth with five points.

Sandy Gholston's SVSU Season Preview

Overview: Saginaw Valley hopes to again contend for the conference championship this season with 16 returning players from the 2010 squad. In recent years, the Cardinals have built a foundation for strong softball. Part of the cornerstone of the success for the Cardinals could be built on the strength of its veteran pitching. Senior Jade Fulton will likely be the centerpiece of the Saginaw Valley effort to keep opposing offenses under control. Fulton was 10-1 last season with a 0.62 ERA and 108 strikeouts. As far as position players, Ashley Jordan, a senior outfielder, is back after batting .388 with 48 hits, 20 runs scored and 20 RBI. Senior Jessica McKeith batted .247 with 22 hits, 21 runs scored and 20 RBI while Jillian Peterson returns after batting .322 with 37 hits and a team-leading 12 doubles.

Coaching: Everett Roper is in his fourth season as head softball coach at Saginaw Valley State.

2010 Record: 30-16 overall, 14-12 GLIAC

Noteworthy: Saginaw Valley was the first team listed among other teams receiving votes in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Feb. 2.

Click here for full release on GLIAC site