Huskers Earn Top-25 Ranking

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The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska softball team was ranked 21st in the USA Today/NFCA preseason coaches poll and 22nd in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, released on Tuesday. The Huskers were one of six Big 12 schools ranked in the top 25.

Defending national champion Michigan was the top-ranked preseason team in both polls, followed by UCLA and Tennessee. Texas and Arizona, respectively, rounded out the top five in both polls.

 

The Huskers finished 36-23 in 2005 and return seven starters from last year’s team that finished the year ranked 25th in the coaches poll. The final ranking was NU’s 11th consecutive top-25 season-ending ranking. The Huskers are one of only six teams in the nation to be ranked in the final USA Today/NFCA poll in each season it has existed.

 

Nebraska, which made its 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and hosted a regional at Bowlin Stadium for the third straight season, hopes for an even higher finish in 2006. Helping the cause is the return of four players who have earned a combined six All-Big 12 awards. The roster is also boosted by the addition of a talented six-player freshman class.

 

Nebraska will get a chance to see how it fares against the other ranked teams when the Huskers open the season on Friday, Feb. 10 in Tempe, Ariz., at the Kajikawa Classic. NU faces Nos. 7/9 Stanford in the season opener before facing Nos. 15/12 OregonState in the second game of the day. In all, Nebraska is scheduled to play at least 13 games against eight ranked teams.

 

USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll
Rank  Team                                 2005 Record            Points
1.         Michigan (21)                    65-7                           714
2.         UCLA (8)                           40-20                         704
3.         Tennessee                       67-15                         642
4.         Texas*                               49-13                         625
5.         Arizona                               45-12                         607
6.         Alabama                             63-15                        542
7.         Stanford*                           43-16                         462
8.         California                           52-15                        459
9.         Texas A&M*                       47-10                        445
10.      Georgia                              55-15                        411
11.      Baylor*                               51-14                         386
12.      Oklahoma*                       50-17                         371
13.      Washington                      35-22                         361
14.      DePaul                              45-21                         356
15.      Oregon State*                   43-16                        351
16.      Northwestern                   42-18                         279
17.      Auburn                               50-18                         231
18.      Louisiana-Lafayette        51-10                         182
19.      Florida*                              41-23                         149
20.      Fresno State                     43-12                         130
21.      Nebraska                          36-23                         127
22.      Oregon                              36-25                         118
23.      Missouri*                           44-15                         112
24.      Iowa                                   50-14                         105
25.      Georgia Tech                   51-14                         104
*scheduled Nebraska opponent

 

ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Top 25 Poll
Rank  Team                                 2005 Record            Points
1.         Michigan (16)                    65-7                           494
2.         UCLA (3)                           40-20                         468
3.         Tennessee                       67-15                         437
4.         Texas (1)*                         49-13                         436
5.         Arizona                               45-12                         421
6.         Texas A&M*                       47-10                        391
7.         Cal                                      52-15                         381
8.         Alabama                             63-15                        357
9.         Stanford*                            43-16                        352
10.      Baylor*                                51-14                        292
11.      Georgia                             55-15                         273
12.      Oregon State*                  43-16                         259
13.      Oklahoma*                       54-17                         255
14.      Washington                      35-22                         206
15.      Northwestern                    42-18                        195
16.      DePaul                              45-21                         173
17.      Fresno State                     43-12                         145
18.      Missouri*                           44-15                         126
19.      Iowa                                   49-14                         125
20.      Auburn                               50-17                         112
21.      Louisiana-Lafayette        51-10                         106
22.      Nebraska                          36-23                         92
23.      Florida*                              41-23                         68
24.      Georgia Tech             50-13                   57
25.      BYU                         45-14                   56
*scheduled Nebraska opponent