ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Swim and Dive was predicted to finish fourth at next week's Valley Swim and Dive Championships in the conference's annual pre-championship coaches poll, as announced by the league office on Thursday.
Six-time defending Valley champion Missouri State edged Indiana State in a tight-race for the top spot in the poll. The Bears secured five first-place votes to Indiana State's four. Southern Illinois, who earned the final first-place vote, was tabbed third.
Behind the Redbirds was Marshall (Fifth), Northern Iowa (Sixth), UIC (Seventh), Little Rock (Eighth), Evansville (Ninth), Valparaiso (10th).
The Redbirds are coming off a second-place finish at the 2022 Valley Championships, which marked Illinois State's best mark at the Valley Swim Championships since 2014.