Fresno State Athletics
Softball Ranks 23rd in USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll
1/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 28, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. -
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The Fresno State softball program made its second preseason appearance in a national poll for 2004 after checking in at No. 23 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Preseason Division I Top 25 Poll this afternoon.
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls. Owning the longest streak for consecutive weeks (178) ranked in NCAA Division I softball history, the Bulldogs now have been nationally ranked in the Top 25 for 179 of 191 weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983. In addition, Fresno State has been in the nation's official Top 25 poll for the 22nd consecutive year.
The 'Dogs achieved their first No. 1 national ranking on March 14, 1989. They were ranked No. 1 for two straight weeks in 1997 before finishing as the No. 1 team in the final 1998 USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. In 1999, Fresno State opened the year with a No. 1 preseason ranking after winning the national title in 1998. The softball program's five No. 1 rankings is the most ever by a Bulldog athletic team.
In both polls of the preseason ranked teams, Fresno State will face a minimum of nine Top 25 teams, including four of the top five (UCLA, Arizona, Oklahoma and Washington). Still further, Fresno State has the possibility of meeting 11 other preseason Top 25 teams in tournament or Western Athletic Conference play.
In other words, Fresno State's non-conference schedule could showcase 19 of the Top 25 preseason teams from both polls.
In the first preseason softball collegiate poll released Jan. 14 by ESPN.com/USA Softball, the Bulldogs were ranked 21st.
More "Meet the Team" activities are slated for this week as fans will have two more opportunities to meet the 2004 Bulldogs before the season gets underway. This week fans will have the opportunity to bid on special auction items as well as meet the players and coaching staff at the annual "Meet the Team" Dinner and Silent Auction, which will be held at TorNino's on Fri., Jan. 30, 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the $30-plate dinner are available by phoning Dorothy Hunter at (559) 439-0605.
The following day fans will be able to meet and greet the Bulldogs at Sierra Vista Mall's center court, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The 2004 Fresno State softball poster and schedule cards will be available while the players and coaching staff will be on hand to sign autographs.
Fresno State opens its 2004 season on the road at Arizona State's Fiesta Bowl Tournament, Feb. 13-15, in Phoenix. On the first day of the season, the Bulldogs open play by playing two teams that received votes in both softball preseason polls in UMass and Texas State on Fri., Feb. 13. Fresno State will meet Western Michigan and Syracuse on Saturday before closing out the tournament with No. 17/No. 18 Texas A&M on Sun., Feb. 15.
