March 7, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
A 4-1 record over the weekend and three victories over ranked teams propelled the Illinois State softball team into the national spotlight, as the Redbirds make their season debut in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Top-25 Poll with a No. 22 ranking.
Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer was happy to see her team make an appearance in the NFCA poll.
"We received several votes in this poll last week so it was good to see us make that leap into the rankings," said Fischer. "The team now has a responsibility and we need to step up to the challenge and defend this ranking."
Led by Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week Shannon Nicholson, the Redbirds improved to 15-5 on the year last weekend, sweeping then-No. 17 Florida in a pair of 1-0 decisions. Illinois state went on to take down host UCLA, 2-1, at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles. Claiming the tournament championship, ISU went on to defeat Long Beach State on Sunday, March 4, in a come-from-behind 8-5 victory.
ISU is also ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top-25 poll with its highest ranking of the season at No. 18.
