3-29-2011 Alabama Stays Atop NFCA Poll

National Fastpitch Coaches Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alabama Holds On To No. 1 In Latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll
March 29, 2011

STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the second consecutive week, Alabama is the No. 1 softball team in America, according to the latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll that was released by the Association on Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide (29-1) got off to a bumpy start last week by splitting a mid-week SEC doubleheader at No. 11 Tennessee.  However, they were able to bounce back later in the week by sweeping a three-game set with Arkansas to finish the five-game stretch at 4-1.

As a result, the Crimson Tide garnered 23 of the 30 first-place votes in the new poll, while Georgia (33-2) moved from third to second and picked-up six first-place votes.  The remaining first-place vote this week went to No. 4 Arizona State (33-2), marking the first time the Sun Devils have received a vote for the top spot since February of 2009.

Michigan (31-2) moved up one spot from fourth to third this week, while Florida (30-4) dropped three spots to fifth after being swept by Georgia to round out the top five.

Only one team fell out of favor with the voters this week, as LSU (18-12) dropped out of the poll for the first time this season.  New to the latest edition of the poll is No. 25 Georgia Tech (28-5), who returns to the fray after a four-week absence.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records as of Mar. 27, 2011 are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

Dropped Out: No. 25 LSU

Others Receiving Votes: LSU 23, Syracuse 22, Fresno St. 13, San Diego St. 4, North Carolina 4, Maryland 1, Notre Dame 1