NFCA Releases National Preseason Softball Rankings
STARKVILLE, Miss. – UC San Diego will begin its defense of
its 2011 national title as the No. 1 team in the land, according to
the 2012 NFCA Division II Preseason Poll that was released by the
Association on Wednesday.
The Tritons (45-13) received all 16 first-place votes and were
followed in the poll by last year's national runner-up
Alabama-Huntsville (48-6-1) in second.
Perennial power North Georgia (53-12) was picked third, while
Saginaw Valley (53-12) and West Texas A&M (42-18) rounded out
the top five in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Arkansas-Monticello (46-16) had the biggest gain from the final
2011 poll, jumping 12 spots from 24th to
12th, while Cal State Chico followed behind with a 10
spot jump, moving from the "receiving votes" category to
15th.
Three other teams were new to the poll from the final 2011
edition, with Armstrong Atlantic, Missouri Western State and
Colorado Mines, all moving into the rankings. Armstrong made
its debut at No. 21, while Missouri Western and Colorado Mines
followed at 23rd and 24th, respectively.
Teams that did not make the transition from last year's final
poll to the first poll of this season were No. 14 West Alabama, No.
15 Cal State Bernardino, No, 17 Nebraska Omaha and No. 22 Emporia
State. Nebraska Omaha is no longer eligible for the NFCA
Division II Top 25 poll, having moved to Division I in the
off-season.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division
II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
Final 2011 records are shown, first-place votes are in
parentheses.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Final 2011
Record
|
Totals
|
Final 2011 Poll
|
|
1
|
UC San Diego (16)
|
45-13
|
400
|
1
|
|
2
|
Alabama-Huntsville
|
48-6-1
|
382
|
2
|
|
3
|
North Georgia
|
53-12
|
366
|
4
|
|
4
|
Saginaw Valley
|
42-18
|
313
|
6
|
|
5
|
West Texas A&M
|
50-17
|
303
|
8
|
|
6
|
Valdosta St.
|
41-11
|
282
|
12
|
|
7
|
Indiana (PA)
|
38-8
|
267
|
7
|
|
8
|
Augustana (SD)
|
50-11
|
262
|
13
|
|
9
|
Lenoir-Rhyne
|
45-10
|
255
|
10
|
|
10
|
C.W. Post
|
41-16
|
234
|
9
|
|
11
|
Rollins
|
45-4
|
223
|
16
|
|
12
|
Ark.-Monticello
|
46-16
|
190
|
24
|
|
13
|
Minn. St. Mankato
|
54-16
|
186
|
5
|
|
14
|
Bloomsburg
|
33-9
|
181
|
11
|
|
15
|
Cal State Chico
|
31-19
|
161
|
RV
|
|
16
|
Angelo St.
|
45-14
|
159
|
21
|
|
17
|
Hawai'i Pacific
|
38-12
|
148
|
19
|
|
18
|
Grand Valley St.
|
41-16
|
146
|
18
|
|
19
|
Tampa
|
39-9
|
128
|
23
|
|
20
|
Midwestern St.
|
54-14
|
124
|
3
|
|
21
|
Armstrong Atlantic
|
31-14
|
80
|
NR
|
|
22
|
West Va. Wesleyan
|
48-8
|
74
|
20
|
|
23
|
Mo. Western St.
|
40-15
|
60
|
RV
|
|
24
|
Colorado Mines
|
36-24
|
58
|
NR
|
|
25
|
Merrimack
|
31-23
|
52
|
25
|
Others Receiving Votes: Indianapolis 40,
Flagler 30, Cal St. San Bernardino 19, Dowling 19, Missouri
Southern St. 18, Sonoma St. 14, Kutztown 7, Lewis 5, Emporia St. 4,
St. Mary's (TX) 4, Barry 3, Winona St. 2, Molloy 1