LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A nine-game winning streak that included a pair of victories over Northwestern Oklahoma State (13-1 in 5 inn., 6-3) and a three-game sweep of Tarleton State (5-4, 11-0 in 5 inn., 14-11) in Lone Star Conference action during the past week have helped West Texas A&M (19-1) supplant defending national champion Valdosta State as the No. 1-ranked team in the newest NFCA Division II softball poll.
The Lady Buffs picked up 13 of 16 possible first place votes to total 393 points, 16 tallies ahead of what had been the only top-rated team since the preseason, Valdosta State (20-5). The second-ranked Blazers received two first-place nods after posting a 4-2 week with a pair of triumphs at West Florida and doubleheader splits at then-No. 19 West Alabama and Alabama-Huntsville.
Indianapolis (18-2) reached its highest ranking of the year at No. 3 in the latest poll, garnering a single first-place vote after stretching its overall winning streak to 11 games with a perfect 6-0 week at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Armstrong Atlantic (17-2-1) swept doubleheaders from Ohio Dominican (12-7, 2-0) and Lander (10-6, 6-1) to climb two positions into fourth, while Southeastern Oklahoma State (21-6) dropped from second to No. 5 after posting just a 2-2 mark in a four-game set against Henderson State.
Rollins (28-2) continued its winning ways with seven triumphs during the past week to rise a position to sixth, while Grand Canyon (18-5) swept four contests from then-No. 18 Notre Dame de Namur and a doubleheader over Dominican University of California to leap all the way from No. 13 into the seventh spot. Central Oklahoma (14-4) and North Georgia (19-6) swapped positions in the new rankings, sitting at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. Texas Woman’s now holds down the 10th position after registering a 6-1 week with sweeps of both Northeastern State (6-1, 18-2 in 5 inn.) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-2, 14-3, 9-0 in 5 inn.) and a split with Texas A&M-International (0-4, 4-1).
New to this week’s ratings are Grand Valley State (10-2) at No. 18, Fort Hays State (13-3) at No. 21, Francis Marion (17-9) at No. 22, Columbus State (20-9) at No. 24 and North Alabama (18-8) at No. 25.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
To view the complete NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, please click this link.