The UMSL Tritons went 34-22 and finished tied for third in the GLVC last season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
ST. LOUIS, MO — The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team has been tabbed for a fifth-place finish during the 2024 Great Lakes Valley Conference season in the annual GLVC Softball Preseason Poll as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Indianapolis was selected as the GLVC favorite, earning 169 points and 13 of the possible 14 first-place votes, as Conference policy prohibits coaches from casting a vote for their own team.
Lewis was tabbed to finish second with 146 points. McKendree received 137 points and the final first place vote and was followed by Maryville in fourth who picked up 127 points.
UMSL received 124 points edging out Illinois Springfield for fifth by one point. The Prairie Stars were followed by Drury (98), Rockhurst (82), Quincy (68) and Missouri S&T (55) to round out the top 10. Truman State (52), Upper Iowa (38), Southwest Baptist (29) and William Jewell (16) round out the poll.
The Tritons went 34-22 in 2023, including 16-8 in the GLVC, finished in a tie for third at the GLVC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons and 10th time overall.
They’ll be under the direction of interim head coach Chelsey Mulligan. Among their returners are fifth-year seniors McKenzie Lamos and Irene Travis who were Second Team All-GLVC selections last season and junior Courtney Settles a Third Team All-GLVC selection a season ago.
Lamos led the team in home runs (9), runs batted in (44) and doubles (18) while Travis led the team with a .362 batting average and 72 hits including 15 doubles, five home runs and four triples and was second with 37 RBI. Settles hit .274 with 28 runs scored, 23 RBI and 14 doubles.
UMSL opens its 2024 season February 16-17 at the Emporia State Classic in Emporia, Kan. The Tritons take on Concordia-St. Paul in its season opener on February 16 at 12:15 p.m., and then will take on Wayne State (Neb.) at 2:30 p.m.
UMSL’s home opener is scheduled for March 26 with a doubleheader against Central Missouri at 2 p.m. The GLVC slate begins on the road March 16 with a doubleheader at William Jewell starting at noon.
The Conference will host the 2024 GLVC Championship Tournament on May 2-5 at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria, Ill.
UMSL sports information provided this story.
2024 GLVC Softball Preseason Poll
| Place | School | Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. | Indianapolis | 169 (13) |
| 2. | Lewis | 146 |
| 3. | McKendree | 137 (1) |
| 4. | Maryville | 127 |
| 5. | Missouri-St. Louis | 124 |
| 6. | Illinois Springfield | 123 |
| 7. | Drury | 98 |
| 8. | Rockhurst | 82 |
| 9. | Quincy | 68 |
| 10. | Missouri S&T | 55 |
| 11. | Truman State | 52 |
| 12. | Upper Iowa | 38 |
| 13. | Southwest Baptist | 29 |
| 14. | William Jewell | 16 |