February 16, 2000

GREYHOUND SOFTBALL RECEIVES VOTES IN NFCA POLL

BETHLEHEM, PA --- The Moravian College softball team is still three weeks away from playing its first game of the season, but the Greyhounds are already receiving national recognition by receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Preseason Poll released Wednesday.

The Greyhounds, who were 28-16 last season and competed in the NCAA Division III East Regional for the second consecutive year, return ten of 11 starters including pitchers this season. Moravian received seven votes in the top 25 poll and was 30^th of 35 teams receiving votes.

Moravian will again play a national caliber schedule with at least nine games against schools ranked or receiving votes including #7 Rowan University, #12 Messiah College, #13 The College of New Jersey, #20 North Carolina Wesleyan College, #23 Salisbury State University (MD) and William Paterson College of NJ which received votes.

The Greyhounds open their 2000 season on Friday, March 10^th at the Virginia Wesleyan Lady Marlin Invitational with games against Chowan College (NC), Mary Washington College and North Carolina Wesleyan.

NFCA Division III Preseason Top 25 (released February 16, 2000)

Rank School (first place votes) 1999 Record Points

1. Simpson (IA) (7) 47-4-1 198
2. Wisconsin-Eau-Claire 40-14 187
3. Bridgewater State (MA) 38-9 169
4. Chapman (CA) (1) 35-10 164
5. St Mary’s (MN) 40-8 160
6. Alma (MI) 46-7 155
7. (tie) Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-7 141
        (tie) Rowan University (NJ) 37-10 141
9. Ithaca (NY) 29-13 132
10. Muskingum (OH) 39-7 121
11. Pacific Lutheran (WA) 39-6 117
12. Messiah (PA) 39-9 111
13. The College of New Jersey 32-11 94
14. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CA) 26-11 84
15. Wheaton (MA) 38-10 80
16. Central (IA) 34-11-1 68
17. Wisconsin-Stevens Point 38-13 64
18. Roanoke (VA) 34-9 59
19. Amherst (MA) 23-9 49
20. North Carolina Wesleyan 27-12 43
21. Keene State (NH) 33-10 39
22. UC San Diego 21-14 35
23. Salisbury State (MD) 33-14 29
24. St. Thomas (MN) 32-14 23
25. Lawrence (WI) 31-7 18

Also Receiving Votes: Clark (MA) 14; Mount Union (OH) 10; Anderson (IN) 9; North Central (IL) 8; MORAVIAN (PA) 7; William Paterson (NJ) 4; Hope (MI) 4; Buena Vista (IA) 2; Wisconsin-Oshkosh 1; Williams (MA) 1.