2016 MAC West Division
1. Central Michigan - 7
2. Ball State - 3
3. Northern Illinois - 2
4. Western Michigan
5. Toledo
6. Eastern Michigan
The Ball State softball team was predicted to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division, according to the 2016 conference preseason poll voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
Ball State received a vote to finish as MAC regular season champions and MAC tournament champions. The Cardinals were one of three teams to receive votes to win the MAC West Division, with three coaches' votes.