April 30, 2008

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles jumped to sixth in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Softball Poll.

Sixth is Carson-Newman's (48-6) highest ranking since joining the NCAA 15 years ago. The Lady Eagles reached as high as fourth in the early 1990's, when they were still NAIA.

The leap from unranked to sixth continues C-N's roller-coaster ride through the NFCA poll this season. The Lady Eagles fell from their previous high of 11th on April 2 to out of the poll last week, despite riding what is now a 19-game win streak.

The ranking comes a week after Carson-Newman moved into the top spot in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional Poll. C-N held onto the top spot in this week's regional poll.

After a week off, C-N continues to play the waiting game until NCAA bids are handed out on Sunday. While it has already earned an automatic bid by winning the South Atlantic Tournament (SAC), Carson-Newman will continue to wait to see if it is the regional tournament's top seed.

The Lady Eagles have already set a new school record with 48 wins in a single season. C-N is currently tied for second in SAC history with 48 wins (Lenoir-Rhyne '07, Presbyterian '04), and remains four wins behind Lenoir-Rhyne's SAC-record of 52 set in 2006 (52-13).

Coach Vickee Hollifield's squad currently owns the top single-season winning percentage (48-6, .889) in SAC history, just ahead of all five of her team's records from 1990-'94.

L-R (39-12) joins the Lady Eagles as the only other SAC team in the poll. The Bears are ranked 20th.

Complete Poll