Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Receive Votes in Preseason Coaches Poll
June 21, 1999 | Softball
January 28, 1999
DALLAS, Texas - Four Big 12 Conference softball teams, including the three which reached the field of eight at the 1998 NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS), are ranked in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Louisville Slugger preseason poll, as announced today by the organization.
At No. 7, Texas is the highest-ranked squad among members of the Big 12 Conference, which has four teams in the preseason poll and another three receiving votes. Nebraska is right behind the Longhorns at No. 8 with Oklahoma and DePaul tied at No. 11, and Oklahoma State No. 15. Missouri, Texas Tech, and Kansas are each receiving votes in the preseason NFCA poll.
The Big 12 was rated the second-strongest conference in the country in 1998 and sent three teams to the WCWS - Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. The league's fourth team in the 1998 NCAA tourney, Oklahoma, reached the finals of its region tournament, just missing a WCWS bid.
The first sport officially sponsored by the Big 12 was softball for the 1996 season. In the three-year existence of the league there have been three different champions - Oklahoma in 1996, Missouri in 1997, and Nebraska in 1998. Last year Nebraska became the first softball team in conference history to go undefeated in Big 12 play at 16-0.
All four preseason Big 12 ranked teams ended 1998 nationally ranked - Nebraska fifth, Oklahoma seventh, Texas eighth, and Oklahoma State 13th. Additionally, Texas Tech ended 1998 17th and Missouri 25th.
USA TODAY/NFCA COACHES TOP 25 PRESEASON POLL January 27, 1999 - First-place votes in parentheses
School '98 Record Pts.
1. Fresno State (20) 52-11 617
2. Arizona (1) 67-4 588
3. UCLA (4) 18-27 546
4. Washington 52-15 529
5. Michigan 56-7 498
6. South Florida 57-14 464
7. TEXAS 49-16 440
8. NEBRASKA 48-12 428
9. Louisiana State 58-14 370
10. Massachusetts 45-14 362
11. OKLAHOMA (tie) 49-15 332
DePaul (tie) 47-8 332
13. Long Beach State 39-20 318
14. Stanford 41-18 305
15. OKLAHOMA STATE 42-19 265
16. Iowa 38-19 236
17. Hawaii 46-15 200
18. Arizona State 38-27 180
19. Alabama 49-18 163
20. Florida 47-22 143
21. Florida State 50-20 137
22. Minnesota 48-21 107
23. Hofstra 39-17 78
24. Illinois-Chicago 56-21 67
25. Oregon 40-31 60
Others Receiving Votes: California (43), South Carolina (38), Pacific (32), MISSOURI (31), Utah (29), Boston College (27), Southwest Missouri St. (21), Cal State-Northridge (20), Central Michigan (19), Southern Illinois (18), Northwestern (16), Southwest Louisiana (14), TEXAS TECH (12), Colorado State (9), Michigan State (8), Northern Illinois (8), Oregon State (7), KANSAS (4), Northeast Louisiana (2), Mississippi State (1), Harvard (1).
