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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Break Into National Picture
2/10/2009 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. - After picking up a pair of wins at No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette on the opening weekend, the Ole Miss softball team found itself in unfamiliar territory on Tuesday, as the Rebels received 23 votes in the latest ESPN/USA Softball poll. The total of 23 votes is the most the Rebels have ever received in a national poll and places them just two spots outside the top 25.
"It is nice to be recognized for our start to the season," said Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson. "However, it is early in the year and it's a long season. I hope that we can continue to play well."
The series win over the No. 6 Ragin' Cajuns was the Rebels' first series win over a top-10 team in school history.
Southeastern Conference foe Alabama claimed the top spot in the poll and six SEC squads were ranked in the top 25. Ole Miss and Auburn were among the league schools receiving votes.
The Rebels picked up another honor earlier in the week, as junior Becky Nye was named the Pitcher of the Week after recording two complete-game wins over the Ragin' Cajuns. In Sunday's rubber game, Nye turned in a brilliant 10.0 inning shutout of ULL. She pitched a career long in innings, allowing only five hits, while striking out four batters for her seventh career shutout.
Ole Miss will travel to Baylor (1-2) this weekend for the Getterman Classic. The Bears knocked off No. 1 Florida this past weekend and are receiving votes in both polls. The tournament field also includes New Mexico (1-2), Northwestern State (1-3), Stephen F. Austin (0-5) and Texas-San Antonio (2-3).
ESPN/USA Softball Top 25
Rank | Team | Record | Points | PVS |
1. | Alabama (12) | 4-0 | 491 | 2 |
2. | Florida (8) | 2-1 | 486 | 1 |
3 | Oklahoma | 4-1 | 428 | 6 |
4. | UCLA | 3-1 | 416 | 4 |
5 | Michigan | 4-1 | 402 | 5 |
6 | Arizona State | 4-1 | 397 | 3 |
7. | Washington | 5-0 | 378 | 15 |
8. | Stanford | 4-1 | 362 | 9 |
9. | Cal | 4-0 | 333 | 14 |
10. | Arizona | 2-2 | 302 | 7 |
11. | Northwestern | 2-2 | 299 | 11 |
12. | Tennessee | 4-1 | 296 | 13 |
13. | Texas A&M | 3-1 | 282 | 10 |
14. | Fresno State | 3-1 | 225 | 12 |
15. | Houston | 3-1 | 180 | 16 |
16. | DePaul | 0-0 | 153 | 18 |
17. | Missouri | 0-0 | 146 | 19 |
18. | UMass | 4-1 | 143 | 24 |
19. | ULL | 1-2 | 135 | 8 |
20. | LSU | 3-2 | 131 | 17 |
21. | Nevada | 3-1 | 130 | 22 |
22. | Georgia | 3-1 | 106 | 23 |
23. | Purdue | 2-1 | 40 | RV |
24. | Long Beach St. | 2-2 | 35 | 20 |
25. | Kansas | 2-2 | 32 | RV |
Parenthesis denotes first place votes.
Dropped Out: North Carolina and Virginia Tech
Others receiving votes: North Carolina (27), Ole Miss (23), Southern Illinois (17), South Florida (16), Oklahoma State (14), Baylor (9), Mississippi State (9), Notre Dame (9), Oregon State (7), BYU (6), Louisville (6), Nebraska (6), San Diego State (5), Florida State (5), Creighton (3), Florida Atlantic (3), Texas (3), Auburn (2) and Oregon (2).
