UNASBPoll16

Softball

LIONS NO. 1 IN FINAL NFCA POLL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After winning the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series in Denver last week, the University of North Alabama softball team was the unanimous No. 1 team in the final NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll released on Wednesday.  It's the first time UNA has reached the top spot in the poll after entering the postseason at No. 3 to match its previous highest ranking.
 
The Lions completed a historical campaign with a 60-7 record to win their first-ever national title. The team broke or tied 30 individual and team school records at the single-season and career levels.
 
Aside from the national title, UNA also won the Gulf South Conference regular season and tournament championships before taking home its first ever South Region title. The Lions finished the regular season with a 46-5 record before posting a 14-2 mark in the postseason. North Alabama won twice on the same day to advance in the regional, super regional and national finals.

National runner-up Humboldt State finished just short of it third national championship before falling to UNA. The Jacks (54-8-1) finished No. 2 in the final rankings. National semifinalists Armstrong State and Southern Arkansas came in at No. 3 and No. 4, while West Texas A&M, who entered the post-season as the nation's top-ranked team, finished at No. 5.

After receiving votes in the pre-season poll, a fast start propelled the Lions to No. 8 in the initial regular-season release of the NFCA rankings.  The team reached No. 6 for three straight weeks before climbing to No. 4 on March 22, to equal its highest-ever ranking at the time. Following a loss to UAH, the Lions dropped to sixth for a week, but rose one spot on consecutive weeks to regain its No. 4 ranking. UNA spent two weeks at No. 4 before closing the regular season at No. 3.
 
UNA's 2016 opponents to appear in the final rankings include Humboldt State (No. 2), Southern Arkansas (No. 4), Adelphi (No. 6), North Georgia (No. 9), Saint Leo (No. 16), UAH (No. 17) and Rollins (No. 22). West Florida and Valdosta State also received votes, while Delta State was also ranked No. 21 when it squared off against the Lions.
 
2016 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Final | May 25, 2016
 
Rank Team Totals 2016 Record Last Poll
1 North Alabama (16) 400 60-7 3
2 Humboldt State 384 54-8-1 5
3 Armstrong State 366 43-15 16
4 Southern Arkansas 353 53-11 15
5 West Texas A&M 336 59-5 1
6 Adelphi 320 35-22 RV
7 Grand Valley State 303 43-13 RV
8 Charleston 290 50-12 RV
9 North Georgia 264 54-8 4
10 Arkansas Tech 227 49-11 7
11 Wayne State (Mich.) 211 50-10 10
12 St. Mary's 209 47-14 9
13 Indianapolis 174 51-6 2
14 Central Washington 160 41-14-2 17
15 West Virginia Wesleyan 150 54-11 12
16 Saint Leo 132 39-8 8
17 UAH 126 40-17 RV
18 Missouri-St. Louis 119 53-9 6
19 Southern New Hampshire 103 40-12-2 14
20 Missouri Western 84 45-13 11
21 California (Pa.) 78 38-6 20
22 Rollins 76 40-16-1
23 Azusa Pacific 69 40-12 21
24 Colorado Mesa 62 40-13
25 Georgia College 55 41-18



Dropped Out: No. 13 Caldwell, No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne, No. 19 Bloomsburg, No. 22 West Florida, No. 23 LIU Post, No. 24 Chico State, No. 25 (tie) Texas Woman's, No. 25 (tie) Catawba.

New to Poll: No. 6 Adelphi, No. 7 Grand Valley State, No. 8 Charleston, No. 17 UAH, No. 22 Rollins, No. 24 Colorado Mesa, No. 25 Georgia College.

Receiving Votes: Caldwell (37), Trevecca Nazarene (15), Bloomsburg (14), West Florida (14), Chico State (12), Lenoir-Rhyne (10), Texas Woman's (8), UC San Diego (7) Valdosta State (7), Pfeiffer (6), California Baptist (5), LIU Post (5), Upper Iowa (4), West Chester (3), Catawba (2).

 
Print Friendly Version