USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll 

The first week of the season saw changes in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, beginning with the top spot where Tennessee earned 26 first-place votes to move into the No. 1 position for the first time in the poll’s history. 

The Lady Volunteers took over the top position after a 4-0 week at the Carolina Classic. UT moved into the top position after matching its previous-best ranking at No. 2 during the preseason poll. 

The biggest move in the rankings this week was made by Texas A&M, leaping nine places into the top five at No. 4. The Aggies started the season 5-0 with four wins over ranked teams. Three of those teams were ranked in the preseason poll’s top five, including previous No. 1 Arizona. 

The Wildcats dropped to third after starting the year with a 4-2 mark that included a win over Northwestern in a rematch of last year’s Women’s College World Series championship. Northwestern dropped two places to sixth after starting the season with a 2-3 mark. 

A pair of WCWS participants, Arizona State and Alabama, also made moves up the rankings this week. Arizona State moved up three places into the No. 2 position after starting the season 8-0. The No. 2 ranking marks the highest rating for the Sun Devils in the poll’s history, bettering the No. 3 position the team obtained most recently in 2002. 

The Crimson Tide kicked off the year with a 5-0 mark and moved up two places to the No. 5 spot. 

Oregon State slipped one place to seventh after a 2-1 start to the campaign, while LSU moved up one place to No. 8. UCLA, ranked third in the preseason, dropped six places to ninth after starting the campaign at 2-3. Texas, who knocked off UCLA in its season opener, rounds out the top 10 after jumping seven places thanks to a 4-1 start. 

California dropped one place to 11th, while Oklahoma jumped four places to No. 12. After a 3-2 start to the 2007 campaign, Stanford dropped out of the top 10, falling five places to 13th. 

Michigan slipped three places to No. 14, and Washington held on to the No. 15 spot after falling three places. 

Louisiana-Lafayette, who upset Georgia twice on the weekend, moved up three places to 16th, while the Bulldogs slipped four places to No. 18. Baylor moved between the two teams, coming in 17th following a 7-0 beginning to the year. 

Nebraska, who dropped four places from the preseason, comes in at No. 19, while Florida moved into the rankings at No. 20 after a 4-1 start to the season that included a win over Arizona. 

Fresno State held on to the No. 21 position, while Florida State moved up three places to No. 22. Massachusetts and South Florida stayed in the rankings at Nos. 23 and 24, respectively, while DePaul moved into the poll at No. 25.