University of Houston Athletics
Softball Ranked No. 23 in USA Today/NFCA Poll
2/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team found themselves ranked in the latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll. They hold the No. 23 spot after going 4-0 last weekend, against Nicholls State and McNeese State.
The poll, released each week, is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches representing each conference.
This is the first time in Houston softball program history that the Cougars earned a spot in a national Top 25 poll. UH was receiving votes in the poll's initial list prior to the start of the season putting them in the 26th spot.
"The ranking happens because of some of the tournaments the other teams play in had some tough teams. It's really easy during tournament time to take a loss, especially one game, when you are playing for the next. Those things happen early," head coach Kyla Holas said. "A lot of these teams that are in it now aren't in it at the end of the year."
While the Cougars are excited to be a part of the poll they are more focused on where they will be later in the season.
"For us, we are focusing on where we are going to be at the end (of the season) more than where we are now. It is a lot harder to get in (the poll) than it is to get out of it," Holas said.
If we can get in here and stay in and slowly creep up then it comes down to the end of the postseason. It will be a lot harder for them (the voters) to vote us out"
UH is also receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll released today.
The Cougars will look to continue their winning ways this weekend when they play host to the Crowne Plaza Classic on Feb. 15-17. Teams set to participate in the tournament include, DePaul, Army and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. DePaul is the first ranked opponent the Cougar will face this season. The Blue Demons are ranked 14th and 13th in the two polls, respectively.
Livestats will be available for each game of the tournament and can be found at www.UHCougars.com.
