LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first time during the 2014 season we have a unanimous choice at No. 1 as West Texas A&M (36-4) picked up all 16 possible first-place votes to lead the April 9th edition of the NFCA Division II national poll.
The Lady Buffs remained in the top spot for the seventh straight week after improving their winning streak to nine games via sweeps of both Lubbock Christian (W 4-2, W 12-2 in 5 inn.) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (W 10-0, W 7-1, W 10-2 in 5 inn.).
Despite remaining idle last week, Tampa (27-4) continued to make program history by climbing one position to its highest-ever ranking of No. 2 in the latest poll.
St. Mary’s (TX) (40-5) witnessed the end of its season-long 18-game winning skein via a 9-4 defeat at the hands of Texas A&M-Kingsville (April 1). The Rattlers still managed to rise a single slot to third in this week’s Association listing, however, after gaining immediate revenge on TAMUK (W 1-0) and then sweeping three contests at Heartland Conference foe Newman (W 8-0 in 5 inn., W 6-5, W 7-4).
Without question the biggest mover in this week’s poll was Cal State Monterey Bay (35-5) as the Otters skyrocketed from 15th all the way to No. 4 after rolling to a silver bracket title at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif. By virtue of its perfect 9-0 effort last week, CSUMB has now won a season-high 17 consecutive games dating back to a March 14 defeat at Cal State Stanislaus.
Emporia State (33-8) advanced two positions to No. 5 following a sweep of Pittsburg State (W 8-2, W 14-9) and a split against Missouri Southern State (W 7-3, L 7-9).
UMSL (26-3), Alabama-Huntsville (30-6), North Georgia (34-8), Humboldt State (34-10) and Angelo State (31-9) held down positions six through 10, respectively. The sixth-rated Tritons made the largest positive move among those five programs, climbing four slots from 10th after going 4-0 in match-ups at Drury and Missouri S&T.
No. 20 North Alabama (32-10), No. 22 Central Oklahoma (31-9) and No. 23 West Chester entered this week’s rankings following the exits of former-No. 16 Shippensburg (21-5), No. 19 Winona State (22-6) and No. 24 Palm Beach Atlantic (23-10).
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.
To view the complete NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, please click this LINK.
