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Lincoln -- Fresh off an appearance in the 1998 College World Series, the Nebraska softball team enters the 1999 season ranked eighth in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll. The Huskers, who finished with a school-record 48-12 record in 1998, ended the year ranked fifth in the final poll. Nebraska returns a pair of All-Americans in 1999, in first-team pitcher Jenny Voss and second-team second baseman Jennifer Lizama. Second-team All-Big 12 first baseman Jamie Fuente also returns to the Huskers.
NU is one of four Big 12 teams ranked in the preseason top 25. Texas is ranked No. 7 preseason, followed by Oklahoma in a tie for 11th and Oklahoma State at 15th. Fresno State, the defending National Champion, enters 1999 ranked No. 1 with 20 of the 25 first-place votes. Arizona and UCLA also garnered first-place votes.
The Huskers open the 1999 season on Feb. 12-14 in Tempe, Ariz., when they play in the Fiesta Bowl Tournament. NU will play No. 21 Florida State and No. 18 Arizona State, as well as Maryland, UNLV and Utah State in the tournament.
|
Rank |
Team |
1998 Record |
Points |
|
1. |
Fresno State (20) |
52-11 |
617 |
|
2. |
Arizona (1) |
67-4 |
588 |
|
3. |
UCLA (4) |
18-27 |
546 |
|
4. |
Washington |
52-15 |
529 |
|
5. |
Michigan |
56-7 |
498 |
|
6. |
South Florida |
57-14 |
464 |
|
7. |
Texas |
49-16 |
440 |
|
8. |
Nebraska |
48-12 |
428 |
|
9. |
Louisiana State |
58-14 |
370 |
|
10. |
Massachusetts |
45-14 |
362 |
|
11. |
Oklahoma (tie) |
49-15 |
332 |
|
DePaul (tie) |
47-8 |
332 | |
|
13. |
Long Beach State |
39-20 |
318 |
|
14. |
Stanford |
41-18 |
305 |
|
15. |
Oklahoma State |
42-19 |
265 |
|
16. |
Iowa |
38-19 |
236 |
|
17. |
Hawaii |
46-15 |
200 |
|
18. |
Arizona State |
38-27 |
180 |
|
19. |
Alabama |
49-18 |
163 |
|
20. |
Florida |
47-22 |
143 |
|
21. |
Florida State |
50-20 |
137 |
|
22. |
Minnesota |
48-21 |
107 |
|
23. |
Hofstra |
39-17 |
78 |
|
24. |
Illinois-Chicago |
56-21 |
67 |
|
25. |
Oregon |
40-31 |
60 |
Others Receiving Votes: California (43), South Carolina (38), Pacific (32), Missouri (31), Utah (29), Boston College (27), Southwest Missouri State (21), California State-Northridge (20), Central Michigan (19), Southern Illinois (18), Northwestern (16), USL (14), Texas Tech (12), Colorado State (9), Michigan State (8), Northern Illinois (8), Oregon State (7), Kansas (4), Northeast Louisiana (2), Mississippi State (1), Harvard (1).