Tide Softball Jumps to No. 17 in the Latest Poll
2/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25 has been released and the Crimson Tide softball team jumped five spots to No. 17 in the first poll to be released since the preseason poll came out on January 29.
The Tide's No. 17 ranking is the highest it has achieved since being No. 15 in the May 1, 2002 poll. The highest ranking the Tide softball program has enjoyed was during the 2001 season when the team spent several weeks in the No. 3 spot.
Also representing the SEC in the rankings along side Alabama are No. 9 LSU, No. 13 Georgia, No. 16 South Carolina and Florida who is receiving votes.
The Tide will be in action this weekend as they travel to Columbus, Ga. for the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic. The tournament consists of 24 teams, 18 of which are ranked in the Top 25. The Tide will start off in round robin play against defending national champion California who is currently ranked No. 4, the No. 23 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the unranked Illinois State Cardinals.
USA Today/NFCA Top 25
1. UCLA (19) 9-1 547 1
2. Arizona (1) 13-1 524 2
3. Nebraska 9-1 494 t-4
4. California 10-2 460 3
5. Washington 9-0-1 458 6
6. Texas (2) 14-0 450 12
7. Cal State Fullerton 10-4 388 10
8. DePaul 5-0 361 11
9. LSU 7-3 352 7
10. Oklahoma 5-2 329 8
11. Florida State 9-3 308 9
12. Stanford 10-2 304 14
13. Georgia 13-1 292 t-17
14. Arizona State 11-3 286 13
15. Michigan 2-3 285 t-4
16. South Carolina 7-3 195 20
17. Alabama 10-5 172 22
18. Oregon State 11-4 144 23
19. Texas A&M 9-3 133 24
20. Pacific 4-3 129 21
21. Ohio State 2-3 117 16
22. Fresno State 2-7 77 15
23. Notre Dame 2-2 72 t-17
24. Georgia Tech 4-3 67 19
t-25. Massachusetts 2-3 31 25
t-25. Oregon 9-4 31 NR
Others receiving votes: Minnesota 19, Florida Atlantic 17, Southern Illinois 15, South Florida 14, Baylor 12, Louisiana-Lafayette 11, Hawaii 10, Kansas 7, Tulsa 6, Florida 5.
