LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Oklahoma continues its hold as the unanimous No. 1 in this week’s 2021 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Sooners (22-0), who hosted Team Mexico in three exhibitions last week, open up Big 12 Conference play on the road at RV Iowa State.

No. 2 UCLA rolled to four wins, three of which counted towards Pac-12 Conference standings, over then-No. 11 Arizona State. Extending their winning streak to 13 games, the Bruins (19-1) edged the Sun Devils (17-6) 2-1 (8 inn.) in the opener and followed with 6-1, 4-0 and 9-0 victories, holding ASU without a run over the final 18 innings of play.

A pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) programs, No. 11 Duke and No. 20 Clemson, continue their upward trends, each gaining three positions, the highest positive moves in the poll. The teams clash in a top-20 matchup this weekend in Clemson, S.C.

The Blue Devils (24-1) extended their program-record win streak to 18 games, following their third straight ACC-series sweep. Additionally, Duke’s game-three victory over Syracuse was the 100^th in program history. The Tigers (20-2) are also enjoying a win streak (17 games) of their own after a four-game sweep of Louisville on the road. It is tied for the longest winning streak amongst Clemson women’s programs (Volleyball / Women’s Tennis).

No. 3 Oregon (20-1) switched spots with No. 4 Alabama following four wins over Pac-12 foe Utah (5-2, 7-6, 3-0, 5-2) to run it win streak to 11 games. The Crimson Tide (24-2) won their Southeastern Conference (SEC) series versus No. 21 Tennessee. They rebounded from a 4-3 loss in the opener with 7-1 and 3-0 triumphs over the Lady Vols (21-5).

No. 5 Florida and No. 6 Washington held their respective spots in the rankings. The Gators (21-2) defeated North Dakota in non-conference action and held Mississippi State (1-0, 10-0, 8-0) scoreless in an SEC sweep. The Huskies (22-2) ran their win streak to 12 with two home triumphs over then-No. 7 Arizona in a rain-shortened Pac-12 series. The Wildcats (14-5), who slipped to No. 9, have now dropped three straight and six of their last eight.

Kentucky and Texas leapfrogged Arizona and Oklahoma State into the No. 7 and No. 8 spots. UK (23-2) enjoyed a 3-0 week with close non-conference wins over Eastern Kentucky (6-5) and Dayton (3-1, 3-1). The Longhorns (20-3) went 5-1, splitting with then-No. 15 Louisiana (4-0, 9-10), sweeping three games from New Mexico (5-3, 12-0, 8-1) and topping McNeese State (5-2) on the road.

Oklahoma State also fell two spots and enter the week at No. 10. The Cowgirls (23-4) posted a 3-2 mark at home, defeating UTSA (11-2) and splitting matchups with Wichita State (2-9, 5-2) and Kansas City (5-6, 13-0).

The 2021 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through March 21. Programs not competing in 2021 will not be eligible for ranking consideration.

2021 USA Today / NFCA Division I
Top 25 Coaches Poll – March 23 (Week 6)

New to Poll: None

Dropped Out: None 

Receiving Votes: Northwestern (41), Iowa State (22), Baylor (19), Illinois (12), Liberty (12), Southern Illinois (9), James Madison (7), Texas State (6), Wichita State (6), South Alabama (5), Texas A&M (4), Fresno State (3).

The 2021 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through March 21.