ST. LOUIS – The Drake University softball team was selected to finish sixth in the 2015 Missouri Valley Conference's annual preseason poll, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Drake, who welcomes back 10 letterwinners and six starters from last season's team, earned 49 points with one first-place vote. Wichita State, the defending regular season champions, are picked to win the MVC this season. Illinois State, UNI, Southern Illinois and Bradley round out the top-5, respectively.

Drake starts the 2015 campaign against the Iowa on Feb. 6 at the UNI Dome Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

To view the complete MVC release and team-by-team preview click here.