The Southwest Minnesota State softball team was picked to finish seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's 14 head coaches.
Wayne State was selected as the conference's preaseason favorite, receiving nine first-place votes and 177 total points. Augustana was picked to finish second with two first-place votes and 168 points, and Winona State was tabbed to finish in third.
Following Winona State was Minnesota State-Mankato, Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota-Duluth and SMSU.
Mustangs junior outfielder Christine Borowiak and senior pitcher Ali Honken was chosen as "players to watch" in the NSIC this season.
SMSU finished eighth in the NSIC last season with an 11-15 conference mark, 18-25 overall. In the conference tournament, the Mustangs were eliminated by Concordia-St. Paul. SMSU opens the 2011 season on Feb. 18 at the Denver Crossover, taking on Metro State (Colo.).