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Sports News: Spring 2002

Wednesday, May 1, 2002

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL REMAINS 20th IN THE NATION

COLUMBIA, MO --- The Moravian College softball team, which finished the regular season with a record of 31-6, has remained 20th in the nation in the final regular season USA Today/NFCA Division III Poll released Wednesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The Greyhounds, who have won their last seven games and are the top seed in this weekend's Commonwealth Conference Tournament, received votes in the preseason poll and were ranked 21st in the first regular season poll and 20th in the second poll. Pacific Lutheran University, undefeated at 31-0, holds down the top spot for the second straight poll.

Moravian has played and defeated two teams ranked in the top 25 and other just out of the top 25. The Greyhounds beat #18 Salisbury (MD) University, 1-0, on March 15th and the squad defeated Christopher Newport (VA) University, which received votes, 7-2 on March 8th. Moravian split a doubleheader at #15 Rowan (NJ) University, lost 5-0 and won 3-1, on Thursday, April 4th.

This marks the third time in head coach John Byrne's nine seasons at Moravian that the Greyhounds have been ranked nationally. The highest ranking the team has achieved was 19th in last year's first regular season poll.

 USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll
Released May 1, 2002 - Final regular season poll - Records as of April 28th

Rank School (first place votes) Record Points Previous Ranking
1. Pacific Lutheran (WA) University (8) 31-0 200 1
2. Central (IA) College 31-3 188 3
3. Muskingum (OH) College 32-6 184 2
4. Emory (GA) University 37-7 172 4
5. University of La Verne (CA) 35-2-1 153 7
6. William Paterson (NJ) University 26-8 152 9
7. SUNY Geneseo 28-4 142 NR
8. Tufts (MA) University 25-7 141 19
9. University of St. Thomas (MN) 29-5 129 25
10. Roanoke (VA) College 36-3 128 6
T11. Capital (OH) University 26-6-1 120 10
T11. Lake Forest (IL) College 22-9 120 NR
13. Wheaton (MA) College 26-7 94 5
14. SUNY Cortland 31-9 91 8
15. Rowan (NJ) University 27-13 87 15
16. East Texas Baptist University 36-6 77 11
17. Salisbury (MD) University 34-8 67 18
18. Benedictine (IL) University 22-12 62 12
19. Alma (MI) College 23-8 61 17
20. Moravian College 31-6 41 20
21. Ithaca (NY) College 26-10 39 16
22. Simpson (IA) College 25-9 36 22
23. Illinois Wesleyan University 28-9 23 NR
T24. Clark (MA) University 25-9 15 NR
T24. Wartburg (IA) College 24-6 15 14

Also receiving votes: Christopher Newport (VA) University (11); US Coast Guard Academy (11); Coe (IA) College (11); Methodist (NC) College (6); Albion (MI) College (5); University of Puget Sound (WA) (5); Bethany (WV) College (4); Cabrini (PA) College (3); St. John Fisher (NY) College (3); Western Connecticut State University (2) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (2).