Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Improves To #26 In NFCA National Poll
04/09/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 9, 2003
Colorado Springs, Colo. - The Southern Illinois University softball team received its highest ranking in school history at #26 in the National Fastpitch Coaching Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll with 20 votes this week. SIU moved up five spots after being ranked #31 in last week's NFCA poll.
"Obviously I'm very happy. I hope we can knock the door down and get into the Top 25. I think this ranking reflects on just how well our team has played this season," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
The Salukis beat #6 Nebraska on the road last week and split with Drake to go 2-1 for the week. Despite the win over Nebraska, SIU is tied at #31 with Illinois, Kansas and Minnesota in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll this week with 4 votes. Southern was alone at #31 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll last week.
The Salukis swept Tennessee-Martin 4-1 and 8-0 on Tuesday to improve to 24-6. SIU will face MVC rival Evansville in a single contest on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Charlotte West Stadium - Rochman Field before a weekend series with SMS at home.
The eight weeks in the NFCA poll is the longest SIU has been in a national poll in school history. The first 2003 ranking eight weeks ago was the first since the late 1990s, when SIU was ranked in the thirties in the NFCA poll.
