Softball Tabbed #20 in NAIA Preseason Poll
The Brenau softball team enters the 2015 season with high expectations as the team was tabbed as #20 in the nation in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll on Tuesday.
After finishing the 2014 season at 34-13 and ranked #23, head coach Devon Thomas and his squad look ahead to the challenge of the upcoming season in the always rigorous Southern States Athletic Conference.
The Golden Tigers will face the reigning NAIA national champion and #1 preseason choice Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) and #2 ranked William Carey (Miss.) College, as well as the #11 ranked Belhaven (Miss.) University in conference play.
Brenau also faces the #3 ranked Reinhardt (Ga.) University in non-conference play.
The Golden Tigers return a talented roster of 12 returning players, including 2014 SSAC All-Conference performers in senior Katie Cole and junior Liz Schneider. Additionally, two SSAC All-Freshman team members-Victoria Fontana and Allison Gunn- hope to build off of their strong freshman campaigns.
Brenau secured 175 total points, and the SSAC placed the highest number of teams in the top 25 with four. The University of Mobile was among conference teams that also received votes in the poll.
2015 NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll – Jan. 20
RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2014 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
1 | 1 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (18) | 44-7 | 498 |
2 | 2 | William Carey (Miss.) | 52-12 | 481 |
3 | 3 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 46-10 | 466 |
4 | 4 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 50-11 | 447 |
5 | 8 | Oklahoma City | 55-13 | 434 |
6 | 5 | St. Gregory's (Okla.) | 52-12 | 404 |
7 | 6 | LSU Alexandria | 35-5 | 403 |
8 | 10 | Concordia (Calif.) | 50-7 | 399 |
9 | 14 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 47-9-1 | 360 |
10 | 11 | Simpson (Calif.) | 45-10 | 350 |
11 | 17 | Belhaven (Miss.) | 44-17 | 340 |
12 | 13 | Cal State San Marcos | 39-9-1 | 321 |
13 | 9 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 49-5-1 | 309 |
14 | 15 | Biola (Calif.) | 36-14 | 283 |
15 | RV | Concordia (Ore.) | 34-18 | 272 |
16 | 16 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 43-8 | 262 |
17 | 18 | Oregon Tech | 35-14 | 228 |
18 | 21 | Houston-Victoria (Texas) | 33-15 | 188 |
19 | 20 | William Woods (Mo.) | 40-17 | 181 |
20 | 23 | Brenau (Ga.) | 34-13 | 175 |
21 | 19 | Oklahoma Baptist | 45-17 | 162 |
21 | 7 | College of Idaho | 35-18 | 162 |
23 | 22 | Davenport (Mich.) | 38-10 | 146 |
24 | 24 | USC Beaufort (S.C.) | 39-11 | 133 |
25 | RV | Taylor (Ind.) | 42-17 | 86 |
Others Receiving Votes: Bellevue (Neb.) 81; Georgetown (Ky.) 69; Mobile (Ala.) 60; William Penn (Iowa) 49; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 36; Bryan (Tenn.) 25; Columbia (Mo.) 22; Georgia Gwinnett 21; Southeastern (Fla.) 15; Dickinson State (N.D.) 13; Central Baptist (Ark.) 12; Ottawa (Kan.) 9; Campbellsville (Ky.) 9; Morningside (Iowa) 6; Grand View (Iowa) 6; Vanguard (Calif.) 5; Corban (Ore.) 3; MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 3.
^ Ranked in the Postseason Top 25 Poll on June 4, 2014