NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Millikin was predicted to defend its College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) softball title based upon the results of the CCIW's annual preseason coaches' poll announced Wednesday.
The Big Blue won the poll with 61 points and five first place votes following conference regular season and tournament titles last season. It was the sixth regular season title and first tournament title since 1990. With the tournament title, Millikin also advanced to the NCAA regional for the first time since 1994.
Illinois Wesleyan was second in the preseason voting with 59 points and three first place votes. The Titans have won the most regular season titles (16 ) and the most tournament titles (14) in CCIW softball history. Illinois Wesleyan last won the regular season and tournament in 2019.
North Central placed third with 49 points and one first place vote after the Cardinals advanced all the way to the CCIW Tournament's semifinal round last season. Carroll followed with 40 points as the Pioneers also advanced to last year's tournament semifinal.
Carthage placed fifth with 38 points, followed by Wheaton (27 points), North Park (21 points), Augustana (16 points) and Elmhurst (13 points).
Voting for the CCIW Preseason Softball Poll is done by the head softball coaches. Each coach votes for the eight other programs in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (eight points for first, seven for second, etc.). Coaches do not vote for their own teams.
2022 CCIW Preseason Softball Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Points (1st Pl. Votes) |
| 1 |
Millikin |
61 (5) |
| 2 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
59 (3) |
| 3 |
North Central |
49 (1) |
| 4 |
Carroll |
40 |
| 5 |
Carthage |
38 |
| 6 |
Wheaton |
27 |
| 7 |
North Park |
21 |
| 8 |
Augustana |
16 |
| 9 |
Elmhurst |
13 |
2021 CCIW Softball Standings
| Team |
CCIW |
Overall |
| Millikin |
24-8 |
31-13 |
| Illinois Wesleyan |
21-9 |
27-16 |
| Carthage |
16-14 |
19-18 |
| Carroll |
17-15 |
23-21 |
| North Central |
16-16 |
23-20 |
| North Park |
13-18 |
19-20 |
| Wheaton |
11-19 |
15-24 |
| Augustana |
10-20 |
14-27 |
| Elmhurst |
7-16 |
10-22 |
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).