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The University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars softball team was ranked No. 15 in the nation today in a poll released by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. It was the first 2008 NAIA Softball regular season poll in the Jaguars’ first ever season.
The announcement follows news that the team was ranked No. 4 in the 18-team Region VI poll released Monday.
“The teams we’ve faced already know we are here to play. Now everyone knows we’re here to win,” Head Softball Coach Keri Lambeth said Wednesday afternoon. “And we’re not done yet, not by a long shot.”
So far in this inaugural season the team has racked up a 19-12 record.
The rating moves the team that much closer toward a bid for the regional championship tournament, Lambeth said. Such a bid would put the Jags in the running for the national NAIA title.
As an independent team not tied to a specific conference, the Jags are hoping for one of only two at-large bids in the region to be able to enter the competition for the championship.
“It’s always nice to hit one out of the ballpark your first time up to bat,” UHV Athletic Director Ashley Walyuchow said. “These rankings are a solid home run for the team, Coach Lambeth and UHV Athletics.”
The news also drew praise from the university’s lead fan.
“We’ve always known we have a talented group of women playing for UHV, but this is truly an incredible accomplishment,” said Tim Hudson, UHV president and NAIA Council of Presidents member. “The other teams in the NAIA better watch out for the Jaguars.”
Hudson added he hopes to be clearing his schedule in May to attend the championship tournaments.
The next national poll will be released March 26. The Jaguars softball team will play their next game Friday and Saturday at LSU-Alexandria.
2008 NAIA Softball Top 25 Poll - March 19
|
RANK |
LAST WEEK |
SCHOOL |
1ST PLACE VOTES |
RECORD |
TOTAL POINTS |
|
1 |
2 |
California Baptist (II) |
10 |
28-2 |
273 |
|
2 |
3 |
Point
Loma Nazarene (Calif.) (II) |
|
15-5 |
247 |
|
3 |
NR |
Lubbock Christian (Texas) (VI) |
|
21-2 |
244 |
|
4 |
4 |
Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) (XI) |
|
11-0 |
236 |
|
5 |
8 |
Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) (XIV) |
|
22-3 |
232 |
|
6 |
13 |
Mobile (Ala.) (XIII) |
1 |
15-3 |
225 |
|
7 |
6 |
Saint
Gregory's (Okla.) (VI) |
|
16-5 |
218 |
|
8 |
7 |
Shorter (Ga.) (XIII) |
|
21-5 |
184 |
|
9 |
10 |
Vanguard (Calif.) (II) |
|
25-7 |
176 |
|
10 |
18 |
Rogers State (Okla.) (VI) |
|
19-3 |
170 |
|
11 |
9 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) (III) |
|
12-2 |
165 |
|
12 |
5 |
Simon
Fraser (B.C.) (I) |
|
3-4 |
145 |
|
13 |
NR |
William Carey (Miss.) (XIII) |
|
20-3 |
138 |
|
14 |
16 |
Bethel (Ind.) (VIII) |
|
16-1 |
129 |
|
15 |
NR |
Houston - Victoria (TX) (VI) |
|
19-12 |
116 |
|
16 |
RV |
Columbia (Mo.) (V) |
|
11-3 |
107 |
|
17 |
1 |
Oklahoma City (VI) |
|
12-7 |
98 |
|
T18 |
25 |
Concordia (Calif.) (II) |
|
25-8 |
79 |
|
T18 |
14 |
The
College of Idaho (Idaho) (I) |
|
9-4 |
79 |
|
20 |
NR |
Georgetown (Ky.) (XI) |
|
9-5 |
73 |
|
T21 |
11 |
Lee
(Tenn.) (XIII) |
|
13-8 |
54 |
|
T21 |
22 |
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (VII) |
|
6-3 |
54 |
|
23 |
24 |
Martin Methodist (Tenn.) (XI) |
|
15-4 |
41 |
|
24 |
12 |
Bellevue (Neb.) (IV) |
|
8-5 |
39 |
|
25 |
20 |
McKendree (Ill.) (V) |
|
6-4 |
12 |
|
