Sports News: Spring 2002

Wednesday, April 3, 2002

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL RANKED 21st IN THE NATION

COLUMBIA, MO --- The Moravian College softball team, off to a 17-3 start this season, has been ranked 21st in the nation in the first regular season USA Today/NFCA Division III Poll released Wednesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The Greyhounds, who opened the season with eight straight victories and have won their last six contests, received votes in the preseason poll and are one of eight teams not ranked in the preseason that are in this week's poll.  Defending NCAA Division III Champion Muskingum (OH) College holds down the top spot with a four-point lead over Central (IA) College.

Moravian has already played and defeated to teams ranked in the top 25.  The Greyhounds beat #20 Salisbury (MD) University, 1-0, on March 15th and the squad defeated #25 Christopher Newport (VA) University, 7-2 on March 8th.  Moravian still has two nationally ranked opponents to play this season with doubleheaders at #14 Rowan (NJ) University on Thursday, April 4th at 3:00 p.m. and at #16 William Paterson (NJ) University on Thursday, April 25th.

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 April 3, 2002 - 1st regular season poll

Rank

School (first place votes)

Record

Points

Preseason Ranking

1.

Muskingum (OH) College (5)

12-2

195

1

2.

Central (IA) College (3)

19-1

191

3

3.

Pacific Lutheran (WA) University

15-0

177

6

T4.

Emory (GA) University

25-2

169

23

T4.

Wheaton (MA) College

11-2

169

4

6.

Roanoke (VA) College

21-3

145

10

7.

University of La Verne (CA)

24-2-1

140

15

8.

St. Mary's (MN) University

7-3

136

2

9.

SUNY Cortland

9-4

131

20

10.

North Central (IL) College

10-3-1

123

5

11.

Augustana (IL) College

12-3

114

NR

12.

Ithaca (NY) College

12-6

108

9

13.

Alma (MI) College

11-6

100

7

14.

Rowan (NJ) University

12-6

96

18

15.

Capital (OH) University

12-4

91

NR

16.

William Paterson (NJ) University

9-5

87

8

T17.

Tufts (MA) University

9-5

71

22

T17.

Wartburg (IA) College

13-3

71

T12

19.

East Texas Baptist University

22-5

55

NR

20.

Salisbury (MD) University

17-6

44

11

21.

Moravian College

17-3

38

NR

22.

St. John Fisher (NY) College

9-1-1

34

NR

23.

Coe (IA) College

15-3

29

NR

24.

Albion (MI) College

14-4

25

NR

25. Christopher Newport (VA) University 15-6 15 NR

Also receiving votes: University of Wisconsin -Whitewater (11); Clark (MA) University (10); United States Coast guard Academy (10); Simpson (IA) College (9); Benedictine (IL) University (3); University of Puget Sound (WA) (2); SUNY Geneseo (1).