For the second-straight season five different Ohio Valley Conference schools received at least one first-place vote in the OVC preseason poll while Jacksonville State picked up the most first-place votes (11) and was tabbed the 2010 OVC preseason favorite in a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors.

Those 11 votes were out of 18 total votes, putting the Gamecocks (120 points) atop the preseason poll for the third time since joining the league in 2003.

Eastern Illinois, last year's champion, picked up four first-place votes (114 total points) and were just six total points behind Jax State. Eastern Kentucky (102 points), Tennessee Tech (78 points) and Tennessee State (70 points) each received one first-place vote apiece and were picked third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The preseason poll was rounded out by UT Martin (59), Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri tying for seventh (38) and Murray State (29).

Jacksonville State finished with the best record in the OVC last season (8-3 overall, 6-1 OVC) but was ineligible for the Conference crown because of a NCAA postseason ban because of an APR penalty. The Gamecocks, however, are once again eligible for the title and NCAA postseason this season and will look to win its third OVC crown with a group of 46 returning letterwinners.


Order of Finish Points

1. Jacksonville State (11) 120
2. Eastern Illinois (4) 114
3. Eastern Kentucky (1) 102
4. Tennessee Tech (1) 78
5. Tennessee State (1) 70
6. UT Martin 59
7. Austin Peay 38
- Southeast Missouri 38
9. Murray State 29



Note: 8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. - Coaches and SID's could not vote for their own teams