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).
|