Hokie ClubThe Virginia Tech softball team will open its 2009 season ranked 20th in the country, as released Tuesday in the 2009 USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Preseason Poll. The University of Florida, which set an NCAA record with 70 victories in the 2008 season, has been selected by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee as the No. 1 team. The Gators finished tied for third at last year’s Women’s College World Series behind NCAA Division I champion Arizona State and runner-up Texas A&M. The Sun Devils received half of the available first place votes (15) and are ranked second in the preseason poll.
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. The complete poll can be found here.
The first 2009 regular season poll will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Tech, which began practice this week, is coming off a berth in the Women’s College World Series and back-to-back ACC titles. The Hokies begin the season on Feb. 6 against Maine at the Chattanooga Challenge.