Ithaca Remains in NFCA Top 25, Fisher Receiving Votes
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its weekly Division III poll as two Empire 8 teams saw some movement. Ithaca College jumped three spots to No. 16, marking the fourth straight week in the top 25. St. John Fisher College, ranked No. 22 last week, is currently receiving votes.
In its only doubleheader of the week, Ithaca won a pair of 8-0 contests over Union College. Senior catcher Kelly Robichaud launched three home runs to lead the offense. The Bombers took game two in eight innings. Fisher, on the other hand, fell twice to Alfred University in its lone games of the week. The Saxons squeaked out a 1-0 victory before winning a run-filled game two, 13-12.
Ithaca is the top-seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Tournament, while Fisher is No. 2.
The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Records through Sunday’s games (May 1) are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.
NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll – May 4, 2016
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
Points |
Previous |
| 1 |
Virginia Wesleyan (8) |
37-5 |
200 |
3 |
| 2 |
Salisbury |
34-4 |
190 |
2 |
| 3 |
Texas-Tyler |
39-4 |
184 |
1 |
| 4 |
Berry (Ga.) |
36-6 |
174 |
4 |
| 5 |
Luther |
34-2 |
164 |
6 |
| 6 |
Texas Lutheran |
41-3 |
164 |
5 |
| 7 |
Birmingham-Southern |
36-8 |
148 |
7 |
| 8 |
East Texas Baptist |
34-8 |
140 |
17 |
| 9 |
Emory |
40-4 |
135 |
9 |
| 10 |
Christopher Newport |
34-7 |
123 |
10 |
| 11 |
Messiah |
34-3 |
119 |
13 |
| 12 |
St. Thomas (Minn.) |
35-5 |
111 |
16 |
| 13 |
Alma |
29-7 |
101 |
11 |
| 14 |
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps |
31-8-1 |
90 |
8 |
| 15 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
27-7 |
90 |
12 |
| 16 |
Ithaca |
29-7 |
69 |
19 |
| 17 |
Rowan |
32-8 |
64 |
14 |
| 18 |
Otterbein |
28-4-2 |
53 |
20 |
| 19 |
Moravian |
32-4 |
48 |
18 |
| 20 |
Manhattanville |
34-2 |
45 |
21 |
| 21 |
Williams |
29-8 |
39 |
23 |
| 22 |
Linfield |
29-13 |
34 |
25 |
| 23 |
Washington (Mo.) |
34-10 |
25 |
24 |
| 24 |
Worcester Polytechnic |
34-6 |
19 |
|
| 25 |
St. Catherine (Minn.) |
28-7 |
17 |
15 |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
University of Chicago 14, Whitworth 10, Wheaton (Ill.) 8, St. John Fisher 4, Cortland 3, Gustavus Adolphus 3 and DePauw 3.