After ending the 2007 season in the national rankings by advancing to the West Regional final of the NCAA Tournament, the softball team begins the 2008 season in the same position, ranked 18th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II preseason poll, announced Wednesday by the organization.
This is the best national ranking in school history for the softball team, coming off a 36-23 season which included five victories in the NCAA West Regional. With 13 players returning from last year’s team, including seven players who have made consecutive national tournament appearances, the poll voters felt that will once again be one of the top teams in the country.
brings back eight starters, including first team All-GNAC players Erin Martin (, ), Megan MacIsaac (, ), Katie Petersen (, ), and Brenda Stice (). Outfielder Katie Antich (Spokane, Wash.) was a second team All-GNAC selection in 2007, while catcher Kaha Weir (Honolulu, Hawaii) and second baseman Jane Purdy (Missoula, Mont.) were honorable mention selections.
Also returning for the 2008 season are juniors Heather Hansen (Redmond, Wash.) and Cassie Cueto (Benton City, Wash.) and sophomores Kelsey Reynolds (Kent, Wash.), Sandra Hernandez (Redlands, Calif.), Lauren Berin (Lacey, Wash.), and Cassi Sharp (Glendale, Ariz.). With six talented newcomers joining the program this year, competition for playing time should be intense, which will get the team prepared for the upcoming season.
is the only GNAC school to appear in the national rankings and is one of three teams from the West Region in the preseason top 25. starts the year ranked sixth, while defending regional champion Cal State Stanislaus begins the year ranked tenth. SIU Edwardsville, the defending national champion, received seven of eight first place votes to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. Ironically, both SIU Edwardsville and are playing their final seasons in Division II before starting the move to Division I next year.
The 2008 softball season kicks off this Friday with the start of the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational hosted by Cal State Stanislaus in Seattle University will face Cal State Dominguez Hills at 10 a.m. and #10 Cal State Stanislaus at 12:15 p.m. The Redhawks will continue play all weekend, facing and on Saturday and Grand Canyon and #6 on Sunday.