Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Receives Votes In Both National Polls
02/16/2005 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 16, 2005
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Southern Illinois is still getting respect and votes in both national polls, following a 2-1 last weekend at the Ole Miss Rebel Classic to open the season.
The Salukis picked up 25 votes (28th) in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll and 22 votes (31st) in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll this week. SIU was ranked #24 in the NFCA/USA Today Preseason Top 25 poll.
"I'm glad that we're still getting consideration, and quite a bit after a 2-1 start," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach. "I think it shows they still respect our program, most teams following a 2-1 record would have fallen way out of the polls. We're still on the edge of the Top 25, which is good."
The Saluki softball program began the season ranked in both preseason polls (Tied for #23 in ESPN.com/USA Softball) for the first time in school history back in January, and earned the third overall preseason ranking (#24 NFCA in 2004) at Southern Illinois.
SIU will face #1 California (NFCA/USA Today) on Friday at 11:30 a.m. to open play at the UNLV Invitational Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., which runs from Feb. 18-20 at Eller Media Stadium. All five Saluki games can be followed live on Gametracker on the SIU web site.
