USA Today/NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll 

After winning back-to-back national titles, St. Thomas begins the 2005 season where it left off – at the top. St. Thomas is at the No. 1 spot, a place it held in only the final poll of 2005 after beating Salisbury in the national championship game and finishing at 43-6. 

St. Thomas has a couple of holes to fill in the middle infield after losing all-Americans Michelle Wong and Kristi Huegel, but the Tommies have a load of talent returning. Janet Nagle returns for her senior season in the circle after a 23-3 campaign last year. The Tommies have a strong sophomore hurler as well in Maria Bye, who finished with 17 wins. 

Head Coach John Tschida also returns two of his top hitters in 2006, including the speedy Carrie Embree, who finished with a .433 average and 24 stolen bases. Also bolstering the lineup will be senior Nikki Conway, who batted .345 and scored 53 runs after stealing 23 bases. 

Tschida has focused his team on not looking too far ahead. "I explained to the kids that last year's team won the national championship and that this year's team is 0-0 just like everyone else." 

Salisbury starts the 2006 season at the No. 2 spot after finishing one game away from a title at 44-6. Head Coach Margie Knight returns six starters, including all-American pitcher Lacey Lister, who finished with 32 wins in '05. 

The No. 3 spot is taken by Chapman, who represented the West region in the final eight of 2006 and finished third in the nation. Nine starters return for Head Coach Janet Lloyd, led by senior all-American shortstop Jill Jeranko and all three starting pitchers. 

No. 4 and No. 5 are Muskingum and Ithaca, respectively. Both finished their 2005 seasons at the national tournament in Raleigh, and with strong returners, both are looking to repeat that accomplishment. 

The top 10 is rounded out by, in order, William Paterson, Washington-St. Louis, Williams, Rutgers-Camden and North Central.