INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its 2026 baseball preseason coaches' poll, with Quincy University selected to finish sixth out of 15 teams after totaling 128 points.
The Hawks enter year four under head coach
Matt Schissel after posting a 26–27 overall record during the 2025 campaign. Despite finishing just under .500 for the first time since the 2001 season, Quincy turned in an 18–14 GLVC mark and secured a berth in the conference tournament for the 14th consecutive year, earning the No. 6 seed.
QU opened tournament play with an upset victory over third-seeded Maryville before dropping its next two contests, including a hard-fought 7–6 loss to eventual GLVC Tournament champion Missouri S&T.
In the preseason poll, Indianapolis was tabbed as the conference favorite with 181 points and five first-place votes, while Illinois Springfield followed closely with 170 points and four first-place selections. Four additional teams received first-place votes, including Maryville, Drury, Lewis, and Missouri-St. Louis.
The Hawks return a strong core of contributors on both sides of the ball while also welcoming a group of freshmen and transfers expected to make an immediate impact. The lineup features key returners
Joe Huffman,
David Broughton,
Ben Dahlof,
Isaiah Fudge,
Byron Blaise, and
Harry Fandre. On the mound, Quincy welcomes back GLVC First Team honoree
Roman Harrison, along with
Kade Ruffner,
Leyton Parmer,
Logan Mueller, and
Ben Draeger, all of whom are expected to play significant roles in the pitching staff.
The 2026 season is right around the corner for Quincy, which opens the year in Memphis, Tennessee, with a two-game series at Christian Brothers on February 6–7. The Hawks will then face defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion Colorado Mesa in a four-game set before returning home for their home opener against Roosevelt on February 20.
To view the full GLVC preseason poll release, click
here.
GLVC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. Indianapolis |
181 (5) |
| 2. Illinois Springfield |
170 (4) |
| 3. Maryville |
169 (2) |
| 4. Drury |
160 (2) |
| 5. Lewis |
139 (1) |
| 6. Quincy |
128 |
| 7. Missouri S&T |
125 |
| 8. Missouri-St. Louis |
124 (1) |
| 9. Upper Iowa |
81 |
| 10. McKendree |
78 |
| 11. Rockhurst |
69 |
| 12. William Jewell |
66 |
| 13. Southwest Baptist |
41 |
| 14. Truman State |
30 |
| 15. Lincoln (MO) |
14 |
