Softball Tabbed 18th In NFCA Preseason Poll
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Jan. 23, 2010) – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released the Division II Preseason Top 25 poll and C.W. Post is ranked 18th, it was announced on Wednesday.
Alabama-Huntsville, who finished as runner-up in last season's NCAA World Series, received 14 first-place votes to place first in the poll.
The Pioneers are the only ranked team from the East Coast Conference and one of only two teams from the NCAA East region to make an appearance in the poll. Northeast-10 member LeMoyne College was ranked seventh and will face C.W. Post on March 19 in Brookville. The Pioneers will also play ninth-ranked California University (Pa.) on March 11 and 25th-ranked Lock Haven University on March 13.
Head coach Jamie Apicella, in his 12th season with the Pioneers, returns with six starters from 2009, including East Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, Sarah Kiser, and ECC Rookie of the Year, Kerry Fisher.
C.W. Post will play a 54-game schedule and opens its season on March 7 against Clarion University and Stonehill College at the Spring Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Final 2009 records are shown. First-place votes are in parentheses.
2010 NFCA Division II Preseason Poll
|
1
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Alabama-Huntsville (14)
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54-6
|
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2
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North Georgia
|
50-5
|
|
3
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Winona St. (1)
|
50-13
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4
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Dixie St.
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41-13
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5
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Indianapolis
|
37-21
|
|
6
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Valdosta St.
|
57-8
|
|
7
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Le Moyne
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45-12
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|
8
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Missouri Western St.
|
47-12
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|
9
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California (Pa.)
|
35-10
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|
10
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Saginaw Valley
|
39-11
|
|
11
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Humboldt St.
|
38-20
|
|
12
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Nebraska-Omaha
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45-17
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|
13
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S.C. Aiken
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34-16
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|
14
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Kutztown
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46-12-1
|
|
15
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Nova Southeastern
|
49-15
|
|
16
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Metro St.
|
40-12
|
|
17
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Abilene Christian
|
43-15
|
|
18
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C.W. Post
|
34-18
|
|
19
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Angelo St.
|
54-5
|
|
20
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Wayne St. (Mich.)
|
40-16
|
|
21
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Wayne St. (Neb.)
|
41-21
|
|
T-22
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West Texas A&M
|
35-21
|
|
T-22
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Mesa St.
|
30-21
|
|
24
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Carson-Newman
|
32-17
|
|
25
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Lock Haven (1)
|
51-6
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