Bulldogs Receiving Votes in National Fastpitch Coaches Association Preseason Poll

January 30, 2007

Smithfield, RI- Coming off the program's most successful season and highest national poll ranking, the 2008 Bulldogs enter the season receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's preseason poll. The Bulldogs finished last season #20 in the NFCA poll last year after a late season run propelled the Bulldogs to the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament.

Even with the loss of six senior contributors including five starters and Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Amanda Wilbur, the Bulldogs have garnered the respect of the nation's coaches. The four preseason votes is the most in the program's history.

The Bulldogs will face three teams in the NFCA top-25 early in the season including #4 Florida Southern who Bryant will play on the team's March trip to Florida. The Bulldogs will also face #8 C.W. Post and #18 Adelphi. The Pioneers and the Panthers both play in the East Coast Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs defeated Adelphi twice in 2007, including eliminating the Panthers in the NCAA Tournament. C.W. Post defeated the Bulldogs twice in the NCAA Tournament and represented the Northeast in the College World Series.

The Bulldogs begin their season March 11 with a doubleheader with the University of Tampa.    

   NFCA Preseason Poll

Rank

Team

Final Record

Totals

Last

1

SIU Edwardsville (7)

49-8

199

1

2

Lock Haven (1)

52-5

189

2

3

Columbus State

58-5

186

3

4

Florida Southern

51-15

169

4

5

Angelo State

53-13

167

5

6

Humboldt

56-8

155

9

7

Nebraska-Omaha

34-20

150

7

8

LIU-C.W. Post

45-17

138

8

9

St. Mary's (Texas)

48-15

124

13

10

Cal St. Stanislaus

50-20

120

6

11

Emporia State

50-12

118

11

12

Bloomsburg

38-15

116

12

13

Grand Valley State

36-18

112

14

14

Alabama-Huntsville

45-18

111

NR

15

Valdosta St.

47-9

80

NR

16

North Georgia

36-19

66

NR

17

Midwestern State

44-16

54

NR

T18

Seattle

36-23

53

18

T18

Adelphi

39-13

53

24

20

Wayne State

41-16

52

NR

21

Kutztown

43-18

49

23

22

SW Minnesota St.

38-13

39

21

23

Gaeorgia College & State

35-21

36

NR

24

Rollins

41-17

14

NR

25

Ferris State

31-17

9

22

Receiving Votes: Shippensburg 8, Augusta State 7, Armstrong Atlantic 7, Georgian Court 5, Minnesota State Mankato 5, Bryant 4, Barry 3, Caldwell 1, St. Edward's 1

 NFCA Website