KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The UNO baseball team was picked to finish third in a pre-season ballot of coaches in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.  The Mavericks will begin their first season of play in the MIAA this spring.  Their first league game is March 6 at Emporia State.

The Mavericks received 78 points in the voting, finishing behind the University of Central Missouri (99 points) and Emporia State University (92).  The results of the poll are below.  This is the first time in recent memory that MIAA coaches have participated in a pre-season poll for baseball.

The Mavericks won the final North Central Conference playoff championship in 2008 and earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Central regional.  The Mavs finished with a record of 45-13.  Ironically, it was Central Missouri that ended UNO's season with an 11-6 win in the regional back on May 18, 2008.

Central Missouri earned nine of a possible 10 first-place votes in the poll.  Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.  Last season, the Mules were eliminated in the semifinal round of the Division II championship by eventual national champion Mount Olive (N.C.).

Emporia State earned two first place votes in the poll.  Last year, the Hornets also qualified for the NCAA Division II regional.

2009 MIAA Baseball Pre-Season Coaches Poll (first place votes in parentheses)

1.  Central Missouri (9) - 99 pts.
2.  Emporia State (2) - 92 pts.
3.  Nebraska-Omaha - 78 pts.
4.  Fort Hays State - 69 pts.
5.  Northwest Missouri State - 60 pts.
6.  Missouri Western - 58 pts.
7.  Missouri Southern - 52 pts.
8.  Washburn - 34 pts.
9.  Pittsburg State - 33 pts.
10.  Southwest Baptist - 18 pts.
11.  Truman State - 12 pts.