Oklahoma Selected Seventh In USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll

Jan. 23, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - Two days after being picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference, the Oklahoma softball team was selected to start the season ranked No. 7 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Preseason Top 25 Poll which was released on Wednesday. Defending national champion Arizona received 20 of the 27 possible first place votes to nail down the No. 1 spot, followed by UCLA, Stanford, LSU, California and Iowa who occupied the other five positions ahead of the Sooners. The Sooners are scheduled to play seven teams that are ranked in the preseason poll during the 2002 season, including the top-ranked Wildcats.

"I feel good about the position we're in to start the season," commented OU Head Coach Patty Gasso. "I expected us to be ranked where we are because of the number of seniors that we lost, including two of our All-Americans. Also, I think the voters ranked us as high as we are because they recognize the talent of our returners and our newcomers."

OU finished last season ranked fifth in the national poll after compiling a 50-9 record, including a 14-2 mark in the Big 12, and making its second consecutive trip to the Women's College World Series. The Sooners return six starters off of last year's squad, including two All-Americans, five All-Big 12 selections and the 2001 Big 12 Player of the Year. Oklahoma opens the season on the road at the UTA Tournament in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 8, against Texas-Arlington at 10 a.m.

The poll is voted on by 27 NCAA Division I coaches representing all Division I conferences and independents.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Selected Seventh In USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll

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