University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panther softball tabbed second in MVC preseason poll, five athletes named to preseason teams
1/22/2026 2:01:00 PM | Softball
ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) released its 2026 softball preseason poll and preseason team results on Thursday afternoon. After falling to eventual MVC Champions Belmont last season in the Valley Semifinals, the Panthers are picked second heading into the 2026 season with 99 points, including four first-place votes. The Belmont Bruins are picked to repeat as league champions with 104 points and six first-place votes.
Along with the poll, the Valley released Preseason All-MVC First Team and Honorable Mention selections. The Panthers claimed five of the 19 available spots with Skylar Benesh, Kate Lappe, Drew Hinrichs, and Anna Wischnowski appearing on the First Team and Ella Smithson on the Honorable Mention squad.
The Panthers open play on Super Bowl Weekend with their annual Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic. The three-day tournament features matchups with Omaha, Kansas City, Iowa State, and Butler on Feb. 6-8.
UNI softball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Softball), X (@UNISoftball), and on Instagram (@unisoftball). The 2026 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information, can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
