Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball receives votes in preseason polls
01/25/2006 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Jan. 25, 2006
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Following a record-setting 47-14 season in 2005, the Southern Illinois University softball team received votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25 polls.
In the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, the Salukis picked up 16 votes, coming in at what would be #29 in the nation. In the USA Today/NFCA poll, SIU cane in at the would-be #32 position with 21 votes.
"It is a great honor to be back in the polls. It shows a great amount of respect for our program and the kids," said SIU Head Coach Kerri Blaylock.
Defending national champion Michigan earned the top spot in both polls with 2005 NCAA Tournament runner-up UCLA coming in a close second in both.
Southern is the only Missouri Valley Conference team to receive votes in the USA Today/NFCA poll, with conference foe Wichita State picking up two votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
The polls also give some insight as to what lays ahead for the Salukis. Three of SIU's opponents for the 2006 season earned rankings in the two polls.
Georgia leads the way with a #10 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA poll and a #11 ranking in the ESPN.com/USA Softball. The Bulldogs are followed by Missouri (#23/#18) and Iowa (#24/#19).
SIU will face Georgia in the NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 25 in Columbus, Ga., while Iowa is making the trip to Carbondale, Ill. March 4-5 for the Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic.
Missouri, who laid the final blow to SIU in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, will host the Salukis March 22 in Columbia, Mo.
Also receiving votes in either or both polls were Arizona State and Mississippi State.
The Salukis will take on the Sun Devils March 10 in San Jose, Calif., in the National Invitational. SIU will travel to Starkville, Miss., Feb. 17-19 to compete in the Mississippi State Invitational.
Though these are the only teams currently on the schedule, SIU has the chance to face 11 other top-25 teams through its participation in the competitive NFCA Leadoff and National Invitational Tournaments.
Teams such as #1 Michigan, #3 Tennessee, #8/#7 California and #6/#8 Alabama are also competing in those events.
"We knew from the get-go what kind of schedule we had. You want to go out and play the best that you can," said Blaylock.
"Last year we saw the benefits of a tough schedule as it really prepares you for conference play."
Southern Illinois will begin its 2006 campaign Feb. 10-12 at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla. The Salukis are scheduled to take on Texas Tech at 9 a.m., Feb. 10
