(Photo Courtesy of Florida Athletics)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Despite each squad receiving an equal number of first-place votes, Florida (11-0) has now edged past Tennessee (9-0) to take over at No. 1 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I softball poll for Feb. 18.
The Gators received 15 of 32 possible first-place votes and 782 total points to lead the second-rated Lady Vols (15 first-place votes/776 points) by only six total tallies in the latest rankings. UF rolled through the Easton Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., over Feb. 14-16, outscoring its five opponents by a combined total of 59-6. Included in those victories was a 15-2 (6 inn.) rout of then-No. 22 Minnesota, a 19-2 (5 inn.) hammering of Ohio State and an 11-1 (5 inn.) drubbing of Hawai’i.
Tennessee dropped from the top spot despite remaining unbeaten following a perfect 5-0 performance at the USF Tournament in Tampa, Fla. The Big Orange totaled 38 runs during the event, registered a 3-2 win over home standing USF (received votes in the last poll) and trounced previously unbeaten Illinois, 10-0.
After blowing through the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Washington (10-0) picked up a pair of first-place nods to hold steady at No. 3. Included in UW’s efforts was an 18-1 (6 inn.) rout of San Jose State (received votes in last poll) and a 3-1 victory over then-No. 11 and defending national champion Oklahoma (6-4).
An unbeaten performance at its own Littlewood Classic, including a triumph over the then-No. 11 Sooners helped Arizona State (11-0) climb a single slot to No. 4, while Kentucky (10-0) continued its rapid rise up the rankings, leaping to an all-time program high of fifth. The Wildcats managed a perfect mark at the Texas Classic in Austin, Texas, including two wins over the then-No. 15 Longhorns (6-4, 6-5).
Following its 5-0 performance at the Easton Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., Oregon (9-1) made the largest move within last week’s Top 10, leaping from 10th to sixth. Michigan (7-2) dropped a single slot to No. 7 after going 4-1 at the Ragin’ Cajun Invite in Lafayette, La. An unbeaten, six-game effort at the Stacy Winsberg Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif., helped UCLA (11-0) advance into the top 10 for the first time in 2014 as the Bruins currently sit at No. 8. Alabama (8-2) plummeted five positions from fourth to ninth following a 3-2 weekend in the Hillenbrand Invite in Tucson, Ariz. During the event, the Crimson Tide suffered a pair of rare shutouts against then-No. 24 Arizona (3-0, 8-0 in 5 inn.). As a result, the Wildcats were rewarded with a staggering 10-position leap from No. 24 to No. 14 in the new rankings. A 6-0 record at the Renegade Classic in Tallahassee, Fla., allowed Florida State (10-1) to advance from 13th into the 10th slot.
Former-No. 23 California (5-4) and No. 25 Louisville (4-5) dropped from this week’s poll, allowing Tulsa (9-1) and Notre Dame (6-1) the opportunity to enter the rankings for the first time in 2014 at No. 22 and No. 24, respectively.
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Current 2014 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.
USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Poll – Week 2 – Feb. 18, 2014
Rank |
Team |
2014 Record |
Totals |
Last Poll Rank |
1 |
Florida (15) |
11-0 |
782 |
2 |
2 |
Tennessee (15) |
9-0 |
776 |
1 |
3 |
Washington (2) |
10-0 |
742 |
3 |
4 |
Arizona State |
11-0 |
705 |
5 |
5 |
Kentucky |
10-0 |
663 |
7 |
6 |
Oregon |
9-1 |
594 |
10 |
7 |
Michigan |
7-2 |
576 |
6 |
8 |
UCLA |
11-0 |
539 |
12 |
9 |
Alabama |
8-2 |
520 |
4 |
10 |
Florida State |
10-1 |
462 |
13 |
11 |
Nebraska |
7-2 |
429 |
9 |
12 |
Texas A&M |
9-2 |
426 |
8 |
13 |
Stanford |
11-0 |
407 |
17 |
14 |
Arizona |
9-0 |
381 |
24 |
15 |
Baylor |
8-2 |
351 |
16 |
16 |
Missouri |
4-1 |
345 |
14 |
17 |
Georgia |
7-0 |
287 |
19 |
18 |
Oklahoma |
6-4 |
283 |
11 |
19 |
South Alabama |
6-1 |
231 |
18 |
20 |
Louisiana Lafayette |
6-3-1 |
178 |
20 |
21 |
Minnesota |
8-1 |
160 |
22 |
22 |
Tulsa |
9-1 |
154 |
RV |
23 |
LSU |
7-3 |
118 |
21 |
24 |
Notre Dame |
6-1 |
94 |
RV |
25 |
Texas |
6-6 |
63 |
15 |
Dropped Out: No. 23 California (5-4), No. 25 Louisville (4-5)
Others Receiving Votes: Auburn (42), Lipscomb (26), USC Upstate (18), California (9), Hawai’i (8), UAB (7), San Diego State (6), USF (6), Houston (5), Northwestern (3), DePaul (2), IPFW (2). Louisville (1).