NFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll
Defending national champion Lock Haven received six first-place votes to begin the 2007 season in the No. 1 position in the NFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll, the association announced Wednesday.
The Lady Eagles return a host of starters from last year’s title team that finished the season 56-4, including Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Kristin Erb who led LHU to an undefeated mark at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship in Salem, Va.
Another national tournament contender, Florida Southern, received the other two first-place votes to come in second. The Moccasins move up one spot from last year’s final rankings with the return of a veteran squad that is anchored by all-American Megan Brown.
2006 national runner-up Emporia State comes in third after losing three starters from last year’s 62-7 squad. Two of three starters lost to graduation, pitcher Melissa Stevens and shortstop Bree Beattie, both earned all-America accolades last season, but the Hornets return second-team selection Megan Davison to anchor a host of veteran players from last season’s second-place run.
Humboldt State moved up to fourth after finishing the 2006 campaign with a 54-6 record and No. 8 final national ranking. The Lumberjacks return eight starters from last year’s squad, including all-America pitcher Lizzy Prescott and standout utility player Tracy Motzny.
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville comes in fifth after advancing to the final eight last season and returning all-America pitcher Sabra McCune. Another participant in the national tournament, Georgia College & State, begins 2007 in the same No. 6 slot it ended 2006. GCSU returns all-American Keidra Baitey and all-region selection Deidra Baitey to anchor a veteran squad.
Incarnate Word moved up seven places into the top 10 at No. 7, while Le Moyne advanced one place to eighth with the return of most of its line-up from last year’s squad that earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. Bloomsburg and final eight participant Central Oklahoma begin the season tied for ninth to round out the top 10.
Nebraska-Omaha moves back into the poll at No. 11, while Alabama-Huntsville starts 2007 at No. 12.
LIU-C.W. Post comes in at No. 13 after receiving votes in last year’s final poll. Cal State Stanislaus, also receiving votes at the end of last season, comes in 14th, while Columbus State ranks at No. 15. Another pair of unranked teams a year ago, Gannon and Barry, start the season ranked in a tie for 16th.
Lenoir-Rhyne ranks No. 18, while Abilene Christian and Shippensburg round out the top 20. Caldwell, Seattle, Southern Indiana and Northwest Missouri State enter the 2007 campaign at Nos. 21-24, respectively, while San Francisco State and Massachusetts-Lowell tie for No. 25 to round out the preseason rankings.
Caption: Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Kristin Erb has guided Lock Haven back into the No. 1 position in the NFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll.
