STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the first time since February of 2006, Michigan (39-3) is the No. 1 softball team in the nation according to latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll that was released by the Association on Tuesday. By climbing to the top spot this week, the Wolverines became the fifth different team to hold the prestigious position this season.

Michigan picked up 15 of the 30 first-place votes and finished 26 points ahead of previous No. 1 and this week’s No. 2, Arizona St. (39-5), who also picked up 12 first-place votes.  The other three first-place votes went to Georgia (39-6) who came in at third, while fellow SEC member Alabama (41-5) finished in fourth.  Rounding out the top five this week was Texas (37-4), who fell from third after going 3-1 during the past week.

After being ranked in every regular-season poll this season, Texas Tech (39-9) fell out of the rankings this week, finishing just five points behind No. 25 Auburn (32-12).  Filling the empty spot left by the Red Raiders was Notre Dame (31-8), which joined the rankings at 24th for the first time since the final regular-season poll of 2010. 

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. 

To view the complete poll, click here.