NFCA Division III Preseason Top 25 Poll
Muskingum College, after finishing last season in third place at the national championship, begins the 2007 season at No. 1 in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll.
The Muskies received only one first-place vote but narrowly edged out defending champion Rutgers-Camden in points to claim the top spot. The team enters the 2007 season looking to continue a trio of impressive streaks – the Muskies have been ranked in the Top 25 in every poll since 1999, they've won nine straight Ohio Athletic Cofnerence titles, and they've appeared in four straight national championship tournaments. The Muskies return a lot of talent both offensively and defensively, led by junior first team all-American Kari Hoying.
Rutgers-Camden received six first-place votes after finishing last year 47-5 but will start the season at No. 2 after losing lone senior Michelle Schlichtig. Schlichtig was a first team all-American after leading the Scarlet Raptors both in the circle and at the plate.
Ithaca moves up two spots from its final 2006 ranking to No. 3 after winning a school record 40 games. The Bombers return seven starters to a team that finished fifth at the national championship tournament, including pitchers Nicole Cade and Carly Myers, who combined for a 39-7 record.
Washington-St. Louis, who began last season ranked seventh but dropped out of the final 2006 poll, begin this season at No. 4. The Bears, led by first team all-American pitcher Laurel Sagartz, look to improve upon a 37-7 record and fourth place regional finish.
Rounding out the top five is Great Lakes region power Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who jumped up five spots from the final 2006 poll. Eau Claire narrowly missed a trip to the national championship by losing in the regional final, but with only one starter lost, the Blugolds look to finish where they left off.
National tournament participant Linfield starts off in the No. 6 spot after finishing at 37-11 last year and is followed by No. 7 Wartburg, a 40-7 team that finished second in its Indianola regional.
2006 national runner-up St. Thomas debuts in the eighth spot, the first time the Tommies have not been ranked in the top two since May 2005. Although St. Thomas lost two all-Americans in Janet Nagle and Nikki Conway, two other first teamers return in shortstop Carrie Embree and utility player Maria Bye.
Ramapo, another national tournament participant, begins the season at No. 9 after finishing 38-18, and 40-9 Plattsburgh State rounds out the top 10.
Louisiana College jumps three spots to No. 11, while final eight participant Williams begins the season ranked 12th. Chapman is at No. 13, while Gustavus Adolphus jumps into the poll at No. 14 after not being ranked last year.
Moravian falls two places to No. 15 to start the year, while Emory jumps three to No. 16. Methodist and Illinois Wesleyan begin 2007 in a tie at No. 17, while previously unranked Cortland State debuts at No. 19.
Rowan, after finishing 41-7 a year ago, comes in at No. 20, with University of Redlands and final eight participant Coe following at Nos. 21 and 22, respectively. Hope drops six spots to No. 23, with No. 24 Transylvania and No. 25 Central rounding out the preaseason rankings.
