April 26, 2000

Chicago, Ill. -The UIC softball team moved up from No. 25 to No. 22 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll released earlier this morning.

The Flames, who had a trio of rainouts last week, went 2-0, sweeping a twinbill from Detroit on Saturday, April 22.

UIC takes its 22nd ranking into South Bend, Ind., this afternoon to battle No. 19 Notre Dame.

The USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 is voted on by 27 Division I softball coaches representing all areas of the USA. First place votes are in parentheses. Records are through games of April 23.


     School                   Record          Pts.      LW
1.   Washington (27)          47-5            675       1
2.   Arizona                  45-7            643       2
3.   UCLA                     33-7-1          621       3
4.   Arizona State            38-11           596       4 (tie)
5.   Oklahoma                 50-6            554       6
6.   Fresno State             44-11           521       4 (tie)
7.   LSU                      47-8            510       7
8.   Southern Mississippi     48-10           469       8
9.   California               41-15           431       9
10.  Alabama                  53-8            424       10
11.  Stanford                 36-12           414       12
12.  Oregon State             33-13-1         375       13
13.  Michigan                 34-11-1         350       11
14.  Cal State Fullerton      37-11           337       15
15.  Iowa                     34-10           307       14
16.  Louisiana-Lafayette      39-13           243       16
17.  Oregon                   30-18           210       18
18.  Long Beach State         34-17           205       17
19.  Notre Dame               37-12           187       19
20.  Nebraska                 37-18           113       RV
21.  Mississippi State        37-20            97       20
22.  Illinois-Chicago         42-21            81       25
23.  Oklahoma State           32-21            69       22
24.  (tie) Florida Atlantic   51-15            61       23
     (tie) South Carolina     31-25            61       21
Dropped Out: East Carolina Others Receiving Votes: New Mexico (39), East Carolina (27), North Carolina (26), Texas A&M (15), Texas (14), DePaul (13), Penn State (12), South Florida (11), Southwest Texas State (9), Pacific (8), Western Illinois (6), Northwestern (2). Eight other schools (totaling 39 points) were mentioned on just one ballot and are not included among others receiving votes.