CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday the 2016 softball preseason poll and predicted the regular season and tournament champions as voted by the head coaches of the 12 MAC institutions.

In the MAC East, the Miami RedHawks tallied three first place votes and were the top overall vote getter to be predicted first in the division for 2016. Ohio was second in the poll, followed by Kent State in third and rounding out the MAC East was Akron, Buffalo and Bowling Green.
 
On the other side of the MAC in the West division, Central Michigan was selected as the favorite after securing seven first place votes. Ball State was selected to finish second with Northern Illinois coming in third and Western Michigan coming in fourth. Toledo and Eastern Michigan were picked fifth and sixth, respectively.
 
Ohio was the predicted as the MAC regular season champion favorite, while Central Michigan and Kent State tied in voting to win the MAC Tournament.

Western Michigan returns almost its entire roster from last year's squad that finished as MAC Tournament runners-up, including four All-MAC selections. Last year the Broncos compiled a 25-26 overall record, going 11-9 during conference play.

Western Michigan was the No. 5 seed in the 2015 MAC Tournament and made a furious postseason run, finishing second to Ball State. After falling to No. 4 CMU in the opening game of the tournament, the Broncos went on to beat No. 8 Ohio, No. 3 Miami, No. 1 Kent State and the Chippewas in elimination games.

WMU kicks off the 2016 season in Las Cruces, N.M., with five games at the New Mexico State Troy Cox Classic, Feb. 19-21
 
2016 MAC Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
East
1.     Miami (3)
2.     Ohio (4)
3.     Kent State (4)
4.     Akron
5.     Buffalo (1)
6.     Bowling Green
 
West
1.     Central Michigan (7)
2.     Ball State (3)
3.     Northern Illinois (2)
4.     Western Michigan
5.     Toledo
6.     Eastern Michigan
 
MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion: Ohio (4)
(Central Michigan 3, Kent State 2, Ball State 1, Buffalo 1, Northern Illinois 1)
 
MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Central Michigan & Kent State (3)
(Ohio 2, Akron 1, Ball State 1, Buffalo 1, Toledo 1)