KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NAIA released the first Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll of the 2024 season on Wednesday. The Cascade Collegiate Conference saw four teams ranked and one received votes.
Oregon Tech fell five spots from topping the preseason poll to land at No. 6. Southern Oregon University dropped six positions to secure No. 8. Eastern Oregon University made big moves, jumping 10 to hold No. 14. College of Idaho moved down nine to rank No. 22 in the first poll. University of British Columbia received votes.
2024 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 – No. 1
| RANK |
LAST TIME |
SCHOOL [First Place Votes] |
RECORD |
POINTS |
| 1 |
7 |
Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) [14] |
19-1 |
492 |
| 2 |
6 |
Science & Arts (Okla.)[1] |
11-2 |
465 |
| 3 |
4 |
Georgia Gwinnett [3] |
16-2 |
464 |
| 4 |
8 |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
13-2 |
443 |
| 5 |
9 |
Oklahoma City |
15-1 |
432 |
| 6 |
1 |
Oregon Tech |
9-6 |
398 |
| 7 |
19 |
Hope International (Calif.) |
19-2 |
389 |
| 8 |
2 |
Southern Oregon |
13-4 |
373 |
| 9 |
3 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
14-4 |
370 |
| 10 |
5 |
Marian (Ind.) |
6-0 |
362 |
| 11 |
NR |
Jessup (Calif.) |
16-2 |
348 |
| 12 |
10 |
Midland (Neb.) |
13-2 |
333 |
| 13 |
12 |
Mobile (Ala.) |
11-4 |
332 |
| 14 |
15 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
17-1 |
272 |
| 14 |
24 |
Eastern Oregon |
9-3 |
272 |
| 16 |
14 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
7-1 |
253 |
| 17 |
16 |
Middle Georgia State |
11-5 |
231 |
| 18 |
NR |
Grand View (Iowa) |
13-2 |
217 |
| 19 |
18 |
Coastal Georgia |
13-3 |
214 |
| 20 |
24 |
Saint Xavier (Ill.) |
10-6 |
193 |
| 21 |
23 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
13-5 |
156 |
| 22 |
13 |
College of Idaho |
9-7 |
130 |
| 23 |
17 |
Ottawa (Kan.) |
15-7 |
126 |
| 24 |
NR |
Concordia (Mich.) |
14-4 |
93 |
| 25 |
21 |
Reinhardt (Ga.) |
10-4 |
87 |
Dropped from Top 25: Southeastern (Fla.). Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Baker (Kan.)
Receiving Votes: Southeastern (Fla.) 85; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 79; Benedictine (Kan.) 71; Arizona Christian 60; LSU Alexandria (La.) 55; Rio Grande (Ohio) 42; Madonna (Mich.) 38; Vanguard (Calif.) 17; Baker (Kan.) 15; Campbellsville (Ky.) 9; Friends (Kan.) 5;
British Columbia (B.C.) 5; Missouri Baptist 3
Rating Methodology:
- The rating was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
- The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
- Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
- For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.