LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Following a Lone Star series sweep of then-No. 22 Angelo State, West Texas A&M remains No. 1 in this week’s NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Wednesday morning.
The Lady Buffs (28-0) received 15-first place votes and 399 points after sweeping a highly competitive series from the Rambelles (18-9). Three of the contests were decided by one run with WT picking up a pair of 2-1 victories in the opening twinbill and closed out the with a come-from-behind triumph in the finale, 3-2. They also took home a 9-1 victory in game three.
The only movement in the top-10 saw Saint Leo (262) move into a tie for ninth with St. Mary’s, replacing California Baptist, which dropped to 12th. It marks the highest program ranking for the Lions (21-1), who went 5-0 by outscoring their opponents 34-2. The Rattlers (21-5) swept a high-scoring Heartland Conference series at Rogers State by a combined scored of 42-12.
No. 2 Indianapolis (1st-place vote / 384), No. 6 North Alabama (318), No. 7 UMSL (308) all posted perfect weeks. The Greyhounds (17-0) remained undefeated with a two doubleheader road sweeps of Great Lake Valley Conference foes Rockhurst (7-2, 2-1) and William Jewell (2-1, 12-2). The Lions (29-4) and Tritons (22-1) each picked up mid-week non-conference wins and swept their respective conference weekends.
No. 3 University of Alabama in Huntsville (25-4) went 4-1, shutting out Tuskegee (8-0, 12-0) and taking two of three from West Florida (6-0, 4-5, 6-2) in a Gulf South Conference home series. No. 8 Georgia College (23-5) finished 3-1, sweeping a road twinbill at Albanay State (6-3, 9-0) and splitting at home against Wingate (11-0, 6-11).
No. 4 Humboldt State and No. 5 Arkansas Tech were washed out over the weekend.
Four programs entered the Top 25, three for the first time this season. No. 24 Florida Tech (23-9) returned after spending two weeks out of the poll. Making their first appearances this season are Northwest Missouri State (17-5) at No. 19, Wayne State University (11-3) at No. 22 and Chico State (15-7) at No. 23. No. 17 Valdosta State, No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne, No. 24 Central Oklahoma and No. 25 Southern Indiana all dropped out.
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 March 13.
2016 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Regular Season (Week 4) | March 16, 2016
|
Rank 1 |
Team West Texas A&M (15) |
Points 399 |
2016 Record 28-0 |
Last Poll 1 |
| 2 | Indianapolis (1) | 384 | 17-0 | 2 |
| 3 | UAH | 365 | 25-4 | 3 |
| 4 | Humboldt State | 348 | 13-1-1 | 4 |
| 5 | Arkansas Tech | 336 | 20-1 | 5 |
| 6 | North Alabama | 318 | 29-4 | 6 |
| 7 | Missouri-St. Louis | 308 | 22-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Georgia College | 288 | 23-5 | 8 |
| 9 | Saint Leo | 262 | 21-1 | 11 |
| 9 | St. Mary's | 262 | 21-5 | 9 |
| 11 | North Georgia | 242 | 24-5 | 12 |
| 12 | California Baptist | 224 | 16-6 | 9 |
| 13 | West Virginia Wesleyan | 212 | 18-2 | 13 |
| 14 | California (Pa.) | 195 | 13-1 | 14 |
| 15 | Dixie State | 158 | 17-7 | 19 |
| 16 | Winona State | 151 | 14-4 | 16 |
| 17 | Caldwell | 122 | 3-3 | 15 |
| 18 | West Chester | 114 | 20-2 | 21 |
| 19 | Northwest Missouri | 82 | 17-5 | RV |
| 20 | Southern New Hampshire | 78 | 4-2 | 20 |
| 21 | Angelo State | 54 | 18-9 | 22 |
| 22 | Wayne State (Mich.) | 51 | 11-3 | RV |
| 23 | Chico State | 49 | 15-7 | RV |
| 24 | Florida Tech | 46 | 23-9 | RV |
| 25 | UC San Diego | 41 | 17-7 | 23 |
New To Poll: No. 19 Northwest Missouri State, No. 22 Wayne State (Mich.), No. 23 Chico State, No 24 Florida Tech.
Dropped Out: No. 17 Valdosta State, No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne, No. 24 Central Oklahoma, No. 25 Southern Indiana.
Receiving Votes: Young Harris (37), Lenoir-Rhyne (14), Southern Indiana (11), LIU Post (8), Delta State (8), Missouri Western (7), Central Oklahoma (7), Grand Valley State (6), Le Moyne (4), New Haven (4), Cameron (3), Valdosta State (1).
