LOUISVILLE, Ky. – West Texas A&M’s grip on its the No. 1 ranking is loosening, but the Lady Buffs are still atop the 2015 NFCA Division II Poll that was released by the Association on Wednesday. A lead that was 21 points over No. 2 Valdosta State going into the week has dwindled to just eight points.

West Texas A&M received 11 first place votes and totaled 391 points after a 3-1 showing in its home tournament. The Lady Buffs (13-2) dropped the opener to St. Edward’s (5-7), but rebounded with a victory over those same Hilltoppers (11-3) and a doubleheader sweep the next day against Newman (5-4 / 9-3).

Winning 12 of their last 13 games, the Blazers (14-2) picked up three first place votes (383 points) following a three-game Gulf South Conference series sweep of West Florida. Valdosta State knocked off the Argonauts by the scores of 7-3, 8-0 and 10-2 to improve to 6-0 in league play.

Cal State Monterey remained in the third spot after taking three of four from Cal State San Bernardino in a CCSA road series. The Otters (10-1) split the opening doubleheader winning 5-1, and falling 11-3 before sweeping the Coyotes day later, 8-0 and 8-4.

Missouri-St. Louis and St. Mary’s (Texas) flip-flopped fourth and fifth spots. A second straight undefeated weekend has the Tritons (13-1) riding a 10-game winning streak and taking the No. 4 ranking. Behind a high-powered offense and strong pitching, UMSL swept through the competition at the Lewis Indoor Tournament (Rosemont, Ill.) by outscoring its opponents 42-5. They run-ruled four teams, including then-No. 15 Wayne State, and won a nailbiter against Grand Valley State, 1-0.

St. Mary’s (15-2) went 5-1 at home last week, including a 4-1 showing at its annual Rattler Invitational. Following a 6-2 mid-week win over Our Lady of the Lake (6-2), the Rattlers topped Tarleton State twice, then-No. 13 Central Oklahoma and Texas Woman’s but fell to Texas A&M Commerce, 1-0.

Idle squads Angelo State (11-1), West Chester (0-0) and LIU Post (0-0) come in sixth, tied for seventh and ninth, while Alabama-Huntsville (10-3) is tied with West Chester for that seventh spot. Rounding out the top 10 is Dixie State and Wingate, both grabbing the 10^th position with 229 points apiece.

Rollins moves into the top 25 for the first time this season at 18^th. The Tars are off to a 10-0 start highlighted by an 8-0 week that included road two wins at Armstrong State.

The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. 2015 records and previous week’s rankings are shown with first-place votes in parentheses.

NFCA Division II Softball Poll – Feb. 25, 2015

Dropped Out of Previous Poll: No. 15Wayne State (4-7), No. 24 Southeastern Oklahoma State (8-7).

New to Poll: No. 18 Rollins

Others Receiving Votes: North Alabama (29), Lenoir Rhyne (25), California Baptist (17), Southeastern Oklahoma State (17), Wayne State (Mich.) (16), California (Pa.) (11), Southern New Hampshire (10), Southern Indiana (10), Midwestern State (6), UC San Diego (4), Arkansas Monticello (2), Shorter (1).