ARCATA – The defending regular-season California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) champion Humboldt State softball team earned a preseason No. 11 ranking, in the 2009 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll that was announced on Wednesday.
Alabama-Huntsville garnered 14-of-16 first-place votes, earned the top spot in the poll and is coming off a 54-6 record in 2009.
Humboldt State concluded the 2009 campaign 38-20 overall, 23-9 in CCAA play.
The Jacks open the 2010 season at in the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational in Turlock beginning February 5. HSU will face San Francisco State, Cal State Monterey Bay, Davis & Elkins, Central Washington, Grand Canyon University and host Cal State Stanislaus in the three-day event.
NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll - 2010 Preseason
The NFCA Division II Top 25 is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. The first 2010 regular season poll will be released on Wednesday, March 3.
Final 2009 records are shown. First-place votes are in parentheses.
Rank Team Record Pts Pvs
1 Alabama-Huntsville (14) 54-6 398 2
2 North Georgia 50-5 375 3
3 Winona St. (1) 50-13 345 5
4 Dixie St. 41-13 331 6
5 Indianapolis 37-21 316 10
6 Valdosta St. 57-8 287 8
7 Le Moyne 45-12 252 7
8 Missouri Western St. 47-12 244 NR
9 California (Pa.) 35-10 233 25
10 Saginaw Valley 39-11 217 14
11 Humboldt St. 38-20 214 NR
12 Nebraska-Omaha 45-17 210 24
13 S.C. Aiken 34-16 206 12
14 Kutztown 46-12-1 196 9
15 Nova Southeastern 49-15 157 18
16 Metro St. 40-12 151 NR
17 Abilene Christian 43-15 130 NR
18 C.W. Post 34-18 114 NR
19 Angelo St. 50-10 104 4
20 Wayne St. (Mich.) 40-16 85 NR
21 Wayne St. (Neb.) 41-21 81 NR
22 West Texas A&M 35-21 73 NR
23 Mesa St. 30-21 65 16
24 Carson-Newman 32-17 62 21
25 Lock Haven (1) 51-6 58 1