NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The battle for the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball title could be wide open this year.

That's the belief of the league's head coaches and sports information directors as four teams garnered first-place votes in the preseason poll that was released during Thursday's OVC Media Day at the Nashville Arena.

In the closest OVC women's balloting in recent league history, Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin and Eastern Kentucky are all regarded as prime contenders for the championship.

"You have to be ready every night in this league, I don't care who you're playing," said Tennessee Tech coach Bill Worrell.

Worrell's Golden Eaglettes, who picked up a share of their 11th regular-season OVC title last year, nabbed nine first-place votes and claimed the preseason top spot.

Tech is led by OVC Preseason Player of the Year Diane Seng, a junior center who was last year's OVC Female Athlete of the Year. Seng is also a standout for the Tech volleyball team.

Close behind Tech was defending OVC Tournament champion Middle Tennessee, which garnered four first-place votes. Three starters return, led by last year's MVP of the league tourney, senior forward Bama Burrell.

Tennessee-Martin, last year's OVC Tournament runnerup, also grabbed four first-place votes and was picked to finish third. The Skyhawks return all five starters from a squad that was picked eighth in last year's preseason poll but won a school-record 13 conference games.

Eastern Kentucky, last season's other regular-season co-champion, snapped up the last three first-place votes and was tabbed for fourth place.

"I'd say this league will probably be the most balanced its been in a lot of years," said Eastern Kentucky coach Larry Inman.

Tennessee State was picked to finish fifth, followed by Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Murray State and Morehead State.

Southeast coach Ed Arnzen believes Tennessee Tech deserves the preseason nod of league favorite.

"They've got a great team and I believe they should be the odds-on favorite," Arnzen said. "But I think after that, it could be anybody."

Arnzen is hoping his Otahkians can begin to make some noise after a dismal last two seasons. Southeast finished last two years ago and tied for eighth last season.

"The last two years have not been good years so it's no surprise we're picked in the bottom bunch," he said. "We have not been very competitive the last two years, but hopefully we will be this year."

Although the Otahkians return several veterans, they will be relying greatly on a strong recruiting class. No Southeast player was a preseason all-OVC choice on either the first team, second team or honorable mention list.

"I think, combined with the returning players and a very good recruiting class, we can really improve on what we've done the last two years," said Arnzen. "We'll have to wait and see but we're looking forward to the season."

WOMEN'S POLL

Predicted order of finish for the Ohio Valley Conference women's teams as picked by league coaches and sports information directors with number of first-place votes in parentheses followed by total points:

1. Tennessee Tech (9) 147

2. Middle Tennessee (4) 142

3. Tennessee-Martin (4) 133

4. Eastern Kentucky (3) 119

5. Tennessee State 79

6. Austin Peay 73

7. Eastern Illinois 66

8. Southeast Missouri 58

9. Murray State 44

10 Morehead State 37

ALL-OVC PREASEASON

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Members of the 1998-99 preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball team as picked by league coaches and sports information directors:

First Team

C-Diane Seng, Tennessee Tech

C-Leah Aldrich, Eastern Illinois

G-Tessa Fields, Tennessee-Martin

F-Bama Burrell, Middle Tennessee

F-Amber Clark, Tennessee Tech

Preseason player of the year

Diane Seng, Tennessee Tech

Second Team

G-Cari Hassell, Tennessee St.

F-Nichole Lockridge, Tennessee-Martin

G-Cortney Neeley, Middle Tennessee

G-Angelica Suffren, Austin Peay

F-Schronda Moore, Tennessee St.

G-Marla Gearhart, Eastern Kentucky

Honorable Mention

F-Charlotte Sizemore, Eastern Kentucky

C-Zabrina Harris, Tennessee-Martin

G-Carlita Elder, Middle Tennessee

C-Chastity Bohannon, Tennessee-Martin

G/F-Bobbi Coltharp, Murray State