LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A familiar face is back at No. 1 as Oregon makes a quick return to the top spot in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, announced Tuesday by the Association.

The Ducks (35-5), which held the top position just two weeks ago, are coming off a Pac-12 series sweep of then-No. 19 Arizona State (7-0, 12-3, 4-3). Oregon received 22 out of a possible 32 first-place votes and 787 points. The Ducks have won five straight and 19 of their last 21. 

After holding down the No. 3 ranking since March 17, Florida received seven first-place votes and 773 points to move up to No. 2 this week. The Gators (39-4) picked up three wins over ranked foes, defeating in-state foe and then-No. 8 Florida State (5-1) and taking the first two games from then-No. 13 Kentucky (1-0, 6-3) this weekend.

Previous No. 1 LSU tallied the final three first-place votes (726 points), but fell two positions to No. 3 after a .500 week. A pair of SEC road wins at then-No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 7-4) were sandwiched around two losses; in the finale to the Lady Vols (5-8) and a mid-week non-conference road test at SEC rival Mississippi State (4-9).

Michigan (699), Oklahoma (669), Alabama (636) and Auburn (602) stayed put at No. 4 through 7. UCLA (572) and Louisiana-Lafayette (535) inched up to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, while Florida State (473) fell to the 10^th spot.

The Wolverines (37-6), Sooners (36-5) and Bruins (35-8) enjoyed 4-0 weeks, which included league series road sweeps of Rutgers (18-0, 16-3, 5-0), RV Texas (8-0, 3-1, 4-1) and Stanford (12-4, 18-3, 10-2), respectively.

Before enjoying their SEC weekend bye, the Crimson Tide (31-9) earned resounding wins at then-RV UAB (10-0) and at home over Middle Tennessee State (11-0). Auburn became one of the first two teams (No. 17 UCF) to reach the 40-win plateau after a 3-1 week. The Tigers (40-6) topped UAB (10-6) and took two-of-three at Texas A&M (8-1, 4-12, 12-4).

The Ragin’ Cajuns (32-5) picked up a pair of ranked wins at home over then-No. 14 Baylor (3-1, 12-2), while the Seminoles (30-11) went 1-2, falling to then-No. 3 Florida and splitting the first two ACC games at Louisville (0-1, 9-1).

Notre Dame (32-11) makes its return to the poll at No. 25 since last being ranked 23^rd in the March 3 poll.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.  Current 2015 records are shown and first-place votes are in parentheses.

USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Poll – April 14, 2015

New to Poll: No. 25 Notre Dame

Dropped out: No. 25 Kansas (33-7) 

Others Receiving Votes: Kansas (15), Mississippi State (15), USC Upstate (7), Texas (7), North Dakota State (6), Western Kentucky (5), Cal State Northridge (3), South Carolina (1).