May 3, 2000

Chicago, Ill. -The University of Illinois at Chicago softball team slipped one spot in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll released earlier this morning, falling to No. 23 in the country.

The Flames went 4-2 last week, improving to 46-23 on the season. UIC sandwiched doubleheader sweeps of Valparaiso and league foe UW-Green Bay around a pair of losses at No. 19 Notre Dame.

Mike McGovern's squad has a pair of key doubleheaders this week as they strive for their fourth straight 50-win season. The Flames battle UAB at Flames Field tomorrow, May 4, at 3:00 p.m., then travel to Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday, May 6, for a battle for the regualr-season conference crown with Wright State at 1:00 p.m.

USA TODAY/NFCA COACHES POLL

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 30.


     School               Record           Pts.      LW
1.   Washington (27)      50-5             675       1
2.   Arizona              47-7             647       2
3.   UCLA                 35-8-1           617       3
4.   Oklahoma             55-6             580       5
5.   Arizona State        39-13            560       4
6.   Fresno State         46-11            548       6
7.   LSU                  51-8             510       7
8.   Southern Mississippi 51-10            469       8
9.   California           41-18            440       9
10.  Stanford             39-14            429       11
11.  Alabama              57-8             410       10
12.  Oregon State         34-14-1          385       12
13.  Michigan             36-11-1          355       13
14.  Cal State Fullerton  40-11            315       14
15.  Iowa                 39-11            307       15
16.  Oregon               33-20            259       17
17.  Louisiana-Lafayette  44-13            242       16
18.  Long Beach State     36-18            195       18
19.  Notre Dame           43-12            186       19
20.  Nebraska             42-18            163       20
21.  Mississippi State    40-22             96       21
22.  Florida Atlantic     51-15             85       24 (tie)
23.  Illinois-Chicago     46-23             78       22
24.  Oklahoma State       33-20             63       23
25.  South Carolina       33-25             40       24 (tie)
Dropped Out: None Others Receiving Votes: Penn State (21), New Mexico (17), Pacific (15), Florida State (13), DePaul (10), East Carolina (7), Hofstra (7), North Carolina (6). Eight other schools (totaling 34 points) were mentioned on just one ballot and are not included among others receiving votes.