ST. LOUIS – The Murray State Racers have been picked as the league favorite in the annual Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll as voted on by the league’s eight head coaches.
 
The Racers received seven first-place votes and 63 total points. UIC was picked to finish second, earning one first-place vote and 55 points. Only one point separated Belmont (44), who was picked third, and Illinois State (43), who finished fourth in the voting.


 
The Flames claimed their first MVC tennis championship in 2025, defeating No. 3-seed Illinois State and top-seeded and reigning champions Murray State to capture the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The title marked UIC’s first championship crown in any sport since joining The Valley.
 
The 2026 spring season kicked off this past weekend, as Belmont, Illinois State and Valparaiso were all in action. Conference play begins the weekend of March 27 with the championship slated for April 24-26 in Chicago, Illinois.