Feb. 7, 2012

CHICAGO - The 2011 Horizon League Tournament championship team, UIC received six first-place votes and 60 points in the Horizon League preseason poll, which is voted on by each League team's head coach. It was announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

"I think our team will be excited to have been chosen to win the League," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "Winning the conference is one of our team goals. We have talked extensively about the expectations and the vision of UIC softball, so now we are excited to start the season. It is going to be a huge challenge to win conference with how solid the Horizon League teams are, and how committed each coach is to playing softball at a high level. I think the conference will present some great games this spring.

Following UIC, Butler was selected as the second-place finishing team with two votes and 55 points, while Loyola was tabbed third with one vote and 48 points.

The Flames enter the 2012 season as the defending Horizon League Tournament champions, which gave them their first NCAA berth since 2004. UIC concluded the 2011 season with the top fielding percentage in the league, .968 percent. Junior Coryn Schmit (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) tied for third place in homeruns with 10, while junior Devin Miller (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) blanked 227 batters to finish third in strikeouts.

UIC begins the 2012 season Friday against Santa Clara at 2:30 (CT) in the Hotel Encanto Invitational as New Mexico State plays host to the Las Cruces, N.M., - based tournament.

2010 PRESEASON VOTING

1) UIC (6 - first-place votes) 60 (points)

2) Butler (2) 55

3) Loyola (1) 48

4) Valparaiso 45

5) Wright State 36

6) Cleveland State 33

7) Green Bay 21

8) Youngstown State 18

9) Detroit 8

--UIC—