LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Salisbury University used an 8-0 week to reclaim the top spot in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III softball rankings.

A doubleheader sweep of then-No. 7 Virginia Wesleyan last Wednesday coupled with a 10-game win streak since a 2-0 loss to fellow ranked school Christopher Newport on March 22 helped the (25-1) Sea Gulls garner seven of eight first-place votes to once again supplant defending national champion Tufts at No. 1.

Unlike three weeks ago, though, both Montclair State and Texas-Tyler also passed the Jumbos, moving up one position each, to second and third, respectively. Montclair (21-1) received the other first-place vote following a 6-0 week, while Texas-Tyler (29-2) went 3-0 to extend its win streak to nine.

Tufts (14-3) split a pair of doubleheaders last week to drop three places to fourth, marking the first time the Jumbos have been out of the top two since the final regular season poll last May 8, when they ranked seventh.

Trine (20-1) was a perfect 4-0 for the week to remain fifth, while Linfield (20-1) and Piedmont (35-3) were also unbeaten to move up two places each to sixth and seventh. An 1-1 week dropped Luther (16-3) from fifth to eighth, while Coe (24-3) is the new No. 9 team and East Texas Baptist (26-5) stayed 10th.

A banged-up Virginia Wesleyan squad (23-5) was 3-3 to fall six places to 13th, while Western Connecticut State (18-5-1) broke into the Top 25 for the first time from the Others Receiving Votes category and Kean (19-5) moved back up as well.

Stevens Tech (17-5) and Williams (11-5), which beat Tufts twice on Saturday, are this week’s two newcomers, while Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Lynchburg, Rowan and Washington (Md.) College all dropped out.

The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Records as of Monday are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.

To view the complete NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll, please click here