After finishing as the runner-up at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship each of the last two years, the Valparaiso University men’s golf team is tabbed to finish second in the league, according to a preseason survey of MVC head coaches.

Valpo, which earned the team’s first postseason appearance since 2013 by qualifying for the National Golf Invitational (NGI) last year, was picked second behind only Illinois State. The Redbirds hauled in all 10 first-place votes and had 100 points in the poll, while Valpo was second with 88 points.

Head coach Dave Gring’s team brings back a pair of NCAA Regional Qualifiers from last season – at-large choice Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) and MVC medalist Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield). The team finished the 2022-23 regular season with a winning percentage of .754. The Beacons kept the momentum rolling with a strong fall campaign this year, led by VanArragon and his 68.83 season scoring average through four tournaments. He ranks No. 43 nationally according to Clippd, leading all MVC golfers.

The Valpo women, who were picked 12^th in the preseason poll, are led by Katie Schreiner (Fenton, Mo. / Summit), Madison Keil (LaGrange, Ind. / Lakeland) and Anna Fay (Ada, Mich. / Forest Hills), who are in a tight race for the team’s best scoring average through the fall season with Schreiner owning the slight edge.

The Valpo women tee off the spring slate on Monday, Feb. 19 at the Islander Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas, while the men get started on Sunday, Feb. 25 as part of the TPC Dorado Beach Collegiate in Dorado, P.R.

Men’s Golf Preseason Poll

1. Illinois State (10), 100
2. Valpo, 88
3. Southern Illinois, 82
4. Belmont, 67
5. Missouri State 60
6. Drake, 46
7. Murray State, 40
8. UNI, 30
9. Evansville, 22
10. Bradley, 15

Women’s Golf Preseason Poll

1. Illinois State (8), 137
2. Bradley (1), 123
3. Missouri State (1), 113
4. UIC, 105
5. Belmont (2), 104
6. Murray State, 79
7. Drake, 78
8. UNI, 59
9. Southern Illinois, 48
10. Indiana State, 43
11. Evansville, 34
12. Valpo, 13