LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Indianapolis, West Texas A&M, Humboldt State and Saint Leo continued their tight grips on the top four spots, while California (Pa.) returned to the top-10 in this week’s NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Wednesday morning.
Eight of the previous top-10 programs put forth unblemished weeks with then-No. 5 Arkansas Tech’s 2-2 outing and then-No. 10 St. Mary’s 4-1 mark, allowing for some movement between No. 5 and No. 10. The top-ranked Greyhounds (38-1) swept a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) doubleheaders on the road and received 12 first-place votes (396 points)
The No. 2 Lady Buffs (44-2) picked up the final four first-place votes (388 points) with a four-game Lone Star Conference (LSC) sweep of East New Mexico, while the third-ranked Jacks (35-3-1) and fourth-ranked Lions (34-1) also swept their respective conference series over the weekend. West Texas A&M’s four league wins clinched the LSC’s regular season title for the third straight season.
Arkansas Tech’s 2-2 Great American Conference split with then No. 23 Southern Arkansas dropped the Golden Suns (38-5) two spots to No. 7, allowing North Alabama (40-5) and North Georgia (43-6) to slide up one spot to No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, following 3-0 and 8-0 weeks.
No. 8 University of Missouri-St. Louis (41-4) and No. 9 California Baptist (34-6) remained in their respective rankings. The Tritons became the third Division II program (UNA & UNG) this week and fourth overall to reach the 40-win plateau with two GLVC sweeps on the road. The Lancers went 4-0, which included taking the first two games of a four-game PacWest showdown at then-No. 13 Dixie State.
Rounding out the top-10 is California (Pa.). The Vulcans (21-1) did not play last week due to weather, but have won 21 straight since dropping their season opener on Feb. 19. St. Mary’s, which was tenth, fell out of the top-10 for the first time this season, coming in at No. 11.
No. 17 Rollins (32-7-1), No. 22 LIU Post (22-7-1) and No. 23 Colorado Mesa (28-7) make their first appearances this season, while No. 24 Lenoir-Rhyne (35-9) returns after falling out on March 16. The 23rd-ranked Mavericks are currently riding a 25-game winning streak, the longest active streak in Division II. Dixie State, No. 16 Young Harris, No. 22 Cameron and No. 25 Southern New Hampshire fell out of the top-25.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through April 10.
-- Image courtesy of Humboldt State Sports Information
2016 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Regular Season (Week 8) | April 13, 2016
| Rank | Team | Totals | 2016 Record | Last Poll |
| 1 | Indianapolis (12) | 396 | 38-1 | 1 |
| 2 | West Texas A&M (4) | 388 | 44-2 | 2 |
| 3 | Humboldt State | 363 | 35-3-1 | 3 |
| 4 | Saint Leo | 354 | 34-1 | 4 |
| 5 | North Alabama | 329 | 40-5 | 6 |
| 6 | North Georgia | 321 | 43-6 | 7 |
| 7 | Arkansas Tech | 300 | 38-5 | 5 |
| 8 | Missouri-St. Louis | 295 | 41-4 | 8 |
| 9 | California Baptist | 273 | 34-6 | 9 |
| 10 | California (Pa.) | 248 | 21-1 | 11 |
| 11 | St. Mary's | 220 | 34-9 | 10 |
| 12 | West Chester | 206 | 35-3 | 15 |
| 13 | Wayne State (Mich.) | 202 | 29-4 | 14 |
| 14 | Armstrong State | 175 | 30-10 | 17 |
| 15 | Missouri Western | 169 | 34-10 | 18 |
| 16 | West Virginia Wesleyan | 144 | 35-5 | 19 |
| 17 | Rollins | 132 | 32-7-1 | RV |
| 18 | Chico State | 127 | 30-10 | 24 |
| 19 | Caldwell | 108 | 18-10 | 21 |
| 20 | Southern Arkansas | 87 | 33-6 | 23 |
| 21 | Delta State | 72 | 33-12 | 20 |
| 22 | LIU Post | 56 | 22-7-1 | RV |
| 23 | Colorado Mesa | 53 | 28-7 | RV |
| 24 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 46 | 35-9 | RV |
| 25 | UAH | 35 | 33-12 | 12 |
Dropped Out: No. 13 Dixie State, No. 16 Young Harris, No. 22 Cameron, No. 25 Southern New Hampshire
New To Poll: No. 17 Rollins, No. 22 LIU Post, No. 23 Colorado Mesa, No. 24 Lenoir-Rhyne
Receiving Votes: Azusa Pacific (31), Northwest Missouri State (18), Dixie State (17), Cameron (11), Adelphi (8), Grand Valley State (8), Catawba (4), Valdosta State (3), West Florida (1).
