LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Defending national champion Tufts University continues to be the top team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III softball rankings.

The (12-1) Jumbos, who were unexpectedly idle last week after their New England Small College Athletic Conference doubleheader with Bowdoin was postponed, received all eight first-place votes.

Salisbury University (17-1), meanwhile, rolled past then-No. 23 Washington (Md.) College twice in its only action to remain firmly in second, Montclair State (15-1) went 4-0 for the week to stay at No. 3 and Texas-Tyler (26-2) swept three American Southwest Conference games from LeTourneau to hold the No. 4 spot.

Luther (15-2) moved up two places and Trine (14-1) jumped one position to tie for fifth after both went unbeaten for the week. Virginia Wesleyan (20-2) won both its games easily to improve one place to seventh, while Linfield (22-6) slid three spots to eighth after going 3-3. Piedmont (29-3) went 6-0 and jumped two spots to No. 9 and East Texas Baptist (23-5) went from ninth to 10th despite a 5-0 week.

A 6-0 week helped Redlands (20-6) make the biggest improvement of the week — four places — to 15th, while Wheaton (20-2) also surged four spots, to 21st, after a 5-1 week.

Fontbonne (18-4) joined the poll for the first time this season, while Wisconsin-Whitewater (10-2) received its first votes since the preseason poll in January. Carthage (6-4) was the lone team to drop out of the rankings, following a 3-3 week.

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