NFCA web page
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Greyhound softball team is ranked fifth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll, released Wednesday. The ranking is the highest in school history, coming a year after UIndy won its first regional title and advanced to the College World Series. Alabama-Huntsville, who made the NCAA championship game last year, grabbed the top spot in the poll.
Under the guidance of sixth-year Head Coach Melissa Frost-Fisher, the Greyhounds return a solid roster poised to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament. Back in the fold is two-time All-American
Megan Russell, who was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year leading UIndy in nearly every offensive category. She also pitched the Hounds to a memorable run in the postseason that included the school's first regional title and a fifth-place finish in the nation after a 1-2 mark at the D-II Championships.
Russell, the career homer leader at UIndy, joins fellow-GLVC First Team All-Conference honoree junior
Jamie Keltz and third team shortstop
Carmen Martinez as key returnees to a club that finished 37-21 last season. The team was selected the unanimous favorite in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll as well.
Two other Midwest region schools appeared in the poll in Saginaw Valley State (10) and Wayne State (20). Ashland, Ferris State and Lewis all received votes as well.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. The first 2010 regular season poll will be released on Wednesday, March 3.
Indianapolis opens its season Feb. 5 in Russellville, Ark. to take part in the Arkansas Tech Spring Slam. The Hounds will play four ranked team in the month of February, playing No. 2 North Georgia and No. 20 Wayne State (Mich.) in Hunstville, Ala. Feb. 19-20 before a showdown with the nation's top-ranked team-- Ala.-Hunstville-- Feb. 28 in Florence, Ala.
2010 NFCA Division II Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
2009 Record |
| 1 |
Alabama-Huntsville (14) |
54-6 |
| 2 |
North Georgia |
50-5 |
| 3 |
Winona St. (1) |
50-13 |
| 4 |
Dixie St. |
41-13 |
| 5 |
Indianapolis |
37-21 |
| 6 |
Valdosta St. |
57-8 |
| 7 |
Le Moyne |
45-12 |
| 8 |
Missouri Western St. |
47-12 |
| 9 |
California (Pa.) |
35-10 |
| 10 |
Saginaw Valley |
39-11 |
| 11 |
Humboldt St. |
38-20 |
| 12 |
Nebraska-Omaha |
45-17 |
| 13 |
S.C. Aiken |
34-16 |
| 14 |
Kutztown |
46-12-1 |
| 15 |
Nova Southeastern |
49-15 |
| 16 |
Metro St. |
40-12 |
| 17 |
Abilene Christian |
43-15 |
| 18 |
C.W. Post |
34-18 |
| 19 |
Angelo St. |
50-10 |
| 20 |
Wayne St. (Mich.) |
40-16 |
| 21 |
Wayne St. (Neb.) |
41-21 |
| 22 |
West Texas A&M |
35-21 |
| 23 |
Mesa St. |
30-21 |
| 24 |
Carson-Newman |
32-17 |
| 25 |
Lock Haven (1) |
51-6 |
Others receiving votes:
Bloomsburg 46, Rollins 37, Caldwell 31, Georgia College 29, Cal St.-Monterey Bay 28, Hawaii Pacific 21, Georgian Court 19, St. Edward's 16, Emporia St. 15, Ashland 10, Augustana (S.D.) 10, Ferris St. 8, Midwestern St. 6, Southwest Minn. St. 6, East Stroudsburg 3, Montana St.-Billings 3, NYIT 3, Concordia-St. Paul 2, Florida Southern 1, Lewis 1, Regis (Colo.) 1
