Softball Starts 2011 at 19th in ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll

Jan. 26, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -

The Texas A&M softball team sits at No. 19 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Preseason Poll, released Monday.

Topping the list is 2010 Women's College World Series (WCWS) runner-up Arizona, followed by 2010 champion UCLA. Alabama claims the No. 3 spot, while fourth-ranked Georgia and No. 5 Florida round out the top five.

The Aggies are slated to face several ranked opponents this season, again playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The team will take on No. 1 Arizona, No. 14 Oregon, and 20^th-ranked BYU in its first tournament of the season. Just two weeks later the Aggies will line up against No. 24 Ohio State and 2010 WCWS competitor Georgia in a double header after a battle with No. 11 Washington at the Cathedral City Classic.

The Big 12 placed five on the list. No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 9 Missouri landed in the top 10, and No. 15 Texas, the Aggies, and No. 22 Oklahoma State also made the cut. Texas A&M was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll and was recently ranked No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll.

A&M softball kicks off the 2011 season Feb. 11 against Cal State Fullerton at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Aggies return to College Station Feb. 18 for a home opener against UT Arlington in the Aggie Classic. For more information on Aggie softball, go to www.AggieAthletics.com.

 

2011 ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll

Rank      Team

1              Arizona (9)
2              UCLA (10)
3              Alabama (1)
4              Georgia
5              Florida
6              Oklahoma
7              Tennessee
8              Michigan
9              Missouri
10           Arizona State
11           Washington
12           California
13           Hawaii
14           Oregon
15           Texas
16           LSU
17           Georgia Tech
18           Stanford
19           Texas A&M
20           BYU
21           Louisiana-Lafayette
22           Oklahoma State
23           Florida State
T24         Illinois
T24         Ohio State