Feb. 6, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS - For the second-consecutive season, the UIC softball team has been selected to finish second in the 2014 Horizon League standings, as announced by the conference office on Thursday. In the preseason coaches' poll conducted by the League, the Flames received four first-place votes and 45 total points, just one point shy of No. 1-selected Valparaiso.
Last season, UIC captured the Horizon League regular season title, but came up short in the tournament. This year, the Flames will be looking to their returners and newcomers, including 2013 All-League First Team selections Natalie Hernandez and Laura Swan, to make an impact and take them all the way to the championship.
The Flames open their 2014 season this weekend as they co-host the Total Control Sports Invitational at the Dome in Rosemont, Ill. UIC will begin play on Friday at 1 p.m. CT against Eastern Illinois.
2014 Softball Preseason Poll
| Rank | School (1st) | Points |
| 1. | Valparaiso (4) | 46 |
| 2. | UIC (4) | 45 |
| 3. | Wright State | 32 |
| 4. | Youngstown State | 30 |
| 5. | Cleveland State | 29 |
| 6. | Green Bay | 22 |
| T7. | Detroit | 10 |
| T7. | Oakland | 10 |
