Jan. 29, 2003
ATLANTA – On the heels of its first-ever national ranking last season, the Georgia Tech softball team opens the 2003 season ranked 19th in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, which was released Wednesday.
This ranking marks the first time that Tech has been nationally rated to start a season. The Jackets finished the 2002 campaign, which ended just one game short of the Women’s College World Series, ranked No. 18.
Tech will play no less than seven games against teams ranked in the preseason poll. The only other Atlantic Coast Conference team in the rankings in Florida State, which checks in at No. 9. The Jackets also have doubleheaders on the schedule with No. 17 Georgia and 22nd-ranked Alabama. Tech faces a stiff test on its opening day of action of the season, as the Jackets will play No. 20 South Carolina at the Gamecock Invitational on February 8.
The Jackets also have the chance to play several other ranked teams during their tournament schedule, including defending national champion and third-ranked California.
Tech went 5-6 in 11 games versus top-25 opponents a year ago.
The complete poll is as follows:
The USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Top 25 is voted on by 22 NCAA Division I coaches representing all regions. Records are from the 2002 season. First-place votes are in parentheses.
Rank Team 2002 Record Points Final '02 Ranking1. UCLA (18) 55-9 543 52 Arizona (2) 55-12 515 23. California (2) 56-19 435 1t-4. Michigan 50-11 403 7t-4. Nebraska 50-14 403 66. Washington 46-18 395 147. LSU 56-11 373 98. Oklahoma 49-16 369 89. Florida State 55-20 344 410. Cal St. Fullerton 53-13 341 1011. DePaul 50-11 336 1112. Texas 50-13 335 1613. Arizona State 46-20 321 314. Stanford 44-20 315 1515. Fresno State 50-20 241 1716. Ohio State 55-14 216 13t-17. Notre Dame 44-16 160 19t-17. Georgia 59-17 160 2219. Georgia Tech 52-18 152 1820. South Carolina 46-20 123 1221. Pacific 43-17 92 2022. Alabama 46-19 87 NR23. Oregon State 40-25 80 2424. Texas A&M 40-18 78 2125. Massachusetts 53-13 68 23Others receiving votes: Florida Atlantic (63), Baylor (60), Iowa (52),Louisiana-Lafayette (29), Virginia Tech (3). 11 other teams (totaling 58 points)were listed on two or fewer ballots and are not included among othersreceiving votes.
-GT-
