INDIANAPOLIS -- The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) announced today the 2026 softball preseason coaches poll with the Storm landing at 13th.

The Tiffin Dragons easily came away with the top spot in the poll, earning 156 points and 11 first place votes. The Dragons were followed by Findlay (137) and 2025 G-MAC champions Hillsdale (133), who each received the remaining first place votes with one apiece.

The remaining poll consisted of Ohio Dominican (122), Northwood (119), Ashland (103), Cedarville (94), Malone (76), Walsh (64), Thomas More (63), Ursuline (50), Kentucky Wesleyan (39), and Lake Erie (27).

"2026 is a year with getting closer to where Lake Erie College Softball should be, in the state of Ohio and in the G-MAC," said Lake Erie head coach Shannon Schaub. "To me and my team, that is making a conference tournament. And not just this year but consecutively for years to come. 2026 we have focused on creating an environment where winning matters and creating an environment that is not effected by outside factors but what we can control. As the G-MAC coaches poll shows, our program has needed some much needed attention and I believe with our revamped recruiting, added to our returners we won't be finishing where the poll shows now. This 2026 season will show improvement and start of turning our program in the right direction for years to come."

Despite graduating a few key contributors, the Storm return an exciting core of young talent bolstered by extensive game experience. Six sophomores combined for 210 games played last season and are poised to take the next step after a year of growth. Offensively, the Storm will be led by senior catcher Peyton Powers, who got off to a hot start last year and finished the season with a .349 batting average and an .844 OPS.

The Storm wil begin their season on Friday, January 30th at the Valkyrie Classic in Duncan, South Carolina. While there, they will face off against Converse, Lynn, Erskine, USC Beaufort, and Clark Atlanta.