By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

GLVC Preseason Poll | Ping! Baseball Poll

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team will once again have the target on its back after being tabbed for the second-straight year to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division.

The Norse garnered four of a possible seven first-place votes and took 34 total points in the preseason coaches’ poll to lead the division. In-state rival Bellarmine received one first-place nod en route to a 30-point total. Saint Joseph’s took the remaining two top votes to finish third in voting with 27 points.

Indianapolis, Lewis, Kentucky Wesleyan and Wisconsin-Parkside rounded out the predicted finish in the East Division.

Southern Indiana was selected as the consensus favorite to win the West, taking all 25 possible points to lead the poll. Drury, the 2007 GLVC champion, was picked second and took the only remaining first-place vote.

Quincy, Rockhurst, Missouri S&T and Missouri-St. Louis rounded out the West Division’s picks.

NKU won its fourth GLVC title in seven seasons after an improbable tournament run that saw the Norse battle all the way from a first-round loss to defeat Saint Joseph’s, 15-4, in the championship final. The Norse advanced to the NCAA North Central Regional, where they defeated top seed Grand Valley State before falling in consecutive games to end their dramatic postseason.

MORE PRESEASON RANKINGS: Ping! Baseball has put NKU at No. 24 in their 2009 Division II preseason rankings. Perennial powerhouse Delta State was tabbed as the top team entering the spring campaign.

The Norse look to be one of the nation’s top teams after returning the bulk of their championship team, including Preseason All-Americans Kevin Dusold and Larry Pempek as well as the entire starting rotation, including aces Ryan Schmidt and Dave Middendorf.

NKU opens the 2009 season on Feb. 14 at Carson-Newman for a three-game series.