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Starkville, Miss. - The Nebraska softball team is ranked eighth in the USA Today/NFCA coaches preseason poll, released Wednesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Huskers’ first opponent, defending national champion UCLA, earned the top spot in the poll with 674 points, including 26 of 27 first-place votes.
NU is one of five Big 12 teams in the poll, including 2003 Women’s College World Series participants Oklahoma (fourth) and Texas (tie for 10th). Texas A&M (18th) and Oklahoma State (21st) are also ranked.
"It’s nice to be ranked," NU Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "But it’s time to get out on the field and play."
When the Huskers do take the field, they will face one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Nebraska is slated to face nine ranked teams in 2004, opening its season against No.1 UCLA and No. 12 DePaul on February 13, at the UNLV Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The Huskers also face Michigan (10th), Florida State (19th) and Arizona State (20th), in addition to their conference opponents.
"We never back down early in the season," Revelle said. "Everything we do is to get ready for the conference season and the postseason.
"Early games against top teams can be a win-win regardless of the score. A win over a good team is obviously great, but a loss can be be good as well. A loss early in the season to a good team will make us better later on in the year."
NU finished 12th in the final 2003 poll after compiling a 39-17 record.
2004 USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll
Team (first-place votes) Points
1. UCLA (26)* 674
2. Arizona 632
3. California (1) 629
4. Oklahoma! 535
5. Washington 515
6. Alabama 514
7. Georgia 455
8. Nebraska 439
9. Lousiana-Lafayette 425
(t) 10. Michigan! 419
(t) 10. Texas! 419
12. DePaul* 375
13. Cal State Fullerton 329
14. LSU 311
15. Stanford 262
16. Oregon 258
17. Iowa 242
18. Texas A&M! 208
19. Florida State* 198
20. Arizona State* 195
21. Oklahoma State! 184
22. South Carolina 90
23. Fresno State 80
24. Southern Illinois 77
25. Michigan State 72
Others receiving votes:
South Florida 50, Tennessee 39, Florida 29*, Northwestern 29, Texas State-San Marcos 25, Oregon State 23*, Massachusetts 8, Illinois 6, Minnesota 5, Notre Dame 4!, Hawaii 4, Mississippi State 3, Florida Atlantic 3.
* Scheduled to play Nebraska once
! Scheduled to play Nebraska twice