Hokie ClubBLACKSURG - Virginia Tech's thrilling 2008 softball season came to a grand conclusion when both of the final national polls were released this week with the Hokies occupying the No. 8 spot in both. Both the USA Softball/ESPN.com and NFCA/USA Today polls credited the Hokies for their strong postseason, leaping them from the low teens to No. 8.
The spot at No. 8 is both a program high and a season ending high. The Hokies spent the entire season ranked in the NFCA Poll and were in all but three USA Softball Polls, falling only as low as 27th.
Tech went 49-19, making it to the Women's College World Series for the first time in the program's 13-year history. The Hokies also won their second-straight ACC Tournament title, before winning the Knoxville Regional and Ann Arbor Super Regional en route to Oklahoma City.
The 2009 team will have a new look, as three key senior starters will depart. But a core group of juniors and sophomores will return and look to build on the foundation established over the past four seasons.