STARKVILLE, Miss. (Jan. 27) – With 13 players returning from last season, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team opens the year ranked ninth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll, which was released on Wednesday.
Last year, the Vulcans posted a 35-10 overall record and finished the year ranked No. 25 in the NFCA poll. Cal U won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West title last season with a 13-1 league mark and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by the eventual-national champion.
Cal U returns junior
Maria Greco, the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year in 2009, and sophomore
Alyson Johnson, the PSAC West Freshman of Year last season, along with six other All-PSAC West selections.
The Vulcans are joined by Kutztown (No. 14) and Lock Haven (No. 25) as PSAC teams ranking in the preseason NFCA Top 25, while Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg are also receiving votes.
Alabama Huntsville was picked as the preseason No. 1 after receiving 14 of the 16 first-place votes. Defending-National Champion Lock Haven fell to No. 25 following the departure of its head coach and the graduation of record-setting pitcher Kristin Erb.
Cal U opens its 17th season under head coach
Rick Bertagnolli at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., from March 6-12. In Florida, the Vulcans will face a pair of preseason nationally-ranked teams in No. 10 Saginaw Valley (Mich.) and No. 18 C.W. Post.
NFCA PRESEASON DIVISION II TOP 25 POLL
| Rank |
Team (First Place Votes)
|
2009 Record |
Total Points |
| 1. |
Alabama-Huntsville (14)
|
54-6 |
398 |
| 2. |
North Georgia
|
50-5 |
375 |
| 3. |
Winona St. (Minn.) (1)
|
50-13 |
345 |
| 4. |
Dixie St. (Utah)
|
41-13 |
331 |
| 5. |
Indianapolis
|
37-21 |
316 |
| 6. |
Valdosta St. (Ga.)
|
57-8 |
287 |
| 7. |
Le Moyne (N.Y.)
|
45-12 |
252 |
| 8. |
Missouri Western St.
|
47-12 |
244 |
| 9. |
California (Pa.)
|
35-10 |
233 |
| 10. |
Saginaw Valley (Mich.)
|
39-11 |
217 |
| 11. |
Humboldt St. (Calif.)
|
38-20 |
214 |
| 12. |
Nebraska-Omaha |
45-17 |
210 |
| 13. |
S.C.-Aiken |
34-16 |
206 |
| 14. |
Kutztown |
46-12-1 |
196 |
| 15. |
Nova Southeastern (Fla.)
|
49-15 |
157 |
| 16. |
Metro St. (Colo.)
|
40-12 |
151 |
| 17. |
Abilene Christian (Texas)
|
43-15 |
130 |
| 18. |
C.W. Post
|
34-18 |
114 |
| 19. |
Angelo St. (Texas)
|
54-5 |
104 |
| 20. |
Wayne St. (Mich.)
|
40-16 |
85 |
| 21. |
Wayne St. (Neb.) |
41-21 |
81 |
| 22t. |
West Texas A&M
|
35-21 |
73 |
| 22t. |
Mesa St. (Colo.)
|
30-21 |
65 |
| 24. |
Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
|
32-17 |
62 |
| 25. |
Lock Haven (1) |
51-6 |
58 |
01/27/10