LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Continuing its undefeated start to 2016, Indianapolis takes over the No. 1 ranking in this week’s NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Wednesday morning.
As the only undefeated team in Division II softball, the Greyhounds (29-0) picked up 12 first-place votes and 396 points to earn their first No. 1 ranking since May 8, 2013. They held that spot for the final six weeks of the regular season. Indianapolis posted a 6-0 week with a non-conference sweep at Ohio Dominican (9-3, 6-1) followed by two more sweeps in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) action against Lewis (5-0, 10-2) and Wisconsin-Parkside (6-0, 5-0).
West Texas A&M, the No. 1 squad for the first five weeks of the regular season, fell to No. 2. The Lady Buffs (36-2) garnered the final four first-place votes and tallied a total of 387 points. WT dropped its second game of the season as it took a 3-1 Lone Star series win at home against Cameron. The Lady Buffs won the first three contests (9-1, 11-1, 8-3), but were edged in the finale (6-9).
Humboldt State (24-2-1) remained at No. 3 following a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) road sweep of Cal State Dominguez Hills (8-1, 5-0, 8-0, 12-3).
After being tied in the fourth position last week, North Alabama edged Arkansas Tech for No. 4 this week. Behind a three-game Gulf South Conference sweep of then No. 21 Delta State, (7-3, 9-1, 8-5), the Lions (35-4) extended their winning streak to 18 games. The Golden Suns (30-3) reached the 30-win plateau after a 5-1 week, which included a twin bill road sweep of RV Pittsburg State and taking three-of-four from Southeastern Oklahoma State (0-2, 2-0, 5-1, 5-4) in Great American Conference play.
University of Missouri-St. Louis, Saint Leo, North Georgia and St. Mary’s continued to occupy No. 6-9. The Tritons (33-2), Lions (29-2) and Nighthawks (34-5) put together undefeated weeks, combining for a 13-0 record, while the Rattlers (28-6) had their 19-game winning streak snapped during a Heartland Conference series matchup at St. Edward’s (7-0, 0-1, 4-3).
Driving a 12-game winning streak, California Baptist (28-6) returned to the Top-10 moving up a spot after it swept four games from Chaminade (8-0, 12-4, 9-1, 10-2) in PacWest Conference action.
Missouri Western (25-9) makes its first appearance in the regular season poll at No. 22, while No. 24 Caldwell returned after a brief absence last week. No. 16 Northwest Missouri State and No. 25 UC San Diego 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 27.
2016 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Regular Season (Week 6) | March 30, 2016
Dropped Out: No. 16 Northwest Missouri State, No. 25 UC San Diego
New To Poll: No. 22 Missouri Western, No. 24 Caldwell
Receiving Votes: Northwest Missouri State (29), Georgia College (21), LIU Post (12), Pittsburg State (7), Rollins (6), Adelphi (5), Grand Valley State (3), Southern Arkansas (3), Lenoir-Rhyne (2), Cameron (2).