Lady Cajun softball holds at fifth in national collegiate poll

<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. - Another undefeated weekend allowed the nationally-ranked University of Louisiana softball team to hold its No. 5 ranking in this week's ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll released Tuesday.

The Ragin' Cajuns (8-0) began the season ranked No. 7 and moved up two spots to No. 5 last week after beginning the season 5-0 in the Mardi Gras Classic Feb. 4-6. This week's ranking marks the second straight week for UL at No. 5.

The Cajuns remained the highest-ranked team in Louisiana for the third straight week (LSU is now No. 10) and are the second-highest ranked team among NCAA Midwest Region schools trailing No. 3 Texas.

The Cajuns garnered 416 points and finished nine points behind No. 4 UCLA (7-2) and 16 points ahead of No. 6 Stanford (6-1).

Arizona, which visits Ragin' Cajun Softball Park March 25-27, sits atop the poll after being co-No. 1 with Pac 10-rival California one week ago. The Wildcats picked up 12 of the 20 first place votes.

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The Cajuns will be back in action this weekend and continue a season-opening 14-game homestand by hosting the 19th annual Louisiana Classics Friday-Sunday.
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<i>Louisiana hosts 19th Annual Louisiana Classics Feb. 18-20 at NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 25-27</i><blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. - Another undefeated weekend allowed the nationally ranked Louisiana's LadyCajuns softball team to hold on its No. 5 ranking in the latest edition of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll, which was released on Tuesday.

The Ragin' Cajuns (8-0) began the season ranked No. 7 and moved up two spots to No. 5 last Tuesday after beginning the season 5-0 in the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Classic Feb. 4-6. This week's ranking marks the second straight week for Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 5.

The ranking is Louisiana's highest regular season mark under co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief.

The Cajuns remained the highest ranked team in the state of Louisiana for the third straight week (LSU is now No. 10) and are the second-highest ranked team amongst the NCAA Midwest Region schools trailing only No. 3 Texas.

The Lady Cajuns garnered 416 points and finished a mere nine (9) points behind No. 4 UCLA (7-2) and 16 points ahead of No. 6 Stanford (6-1).

Louisiana is ranked ahead of Washington, Tennessee, Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama and Oregon to name a few of the teams from larger conferences.

The ranking assured the Cajuns of being a member of the Top 10 for the third straight week.

Arizona, which visits Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park March 25-27, sits atop the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll after being declared co-No. 1's with Pac 10-rival California just a week ago. The Wildcats picked up 12 of the 20 first place votes to edge Cal by only three points for the No. 1 ranking.

The Top 10 welcomed two new teams into its ranks with Alabama leaping five spots to No. 8 with an overall record of 11-0 and Michigan taking over the No. 9 slot.

The fifth-ranked Lady Cajuns will be back in action this weekend as they continue their season-opening 14-game homestand by hosting the 19th Annual Louisiana Classics Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20 at the Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.


To view the complete listing of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll, please click the link below:

The UL Softball team is also ranked #5 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll released on 2-16-05. This poll is voted on by College coaches. I believe the USA Poll (released on Tuesdays during the season) might be the better poll since it is voted on by media and coaches. LSU always seems to do better than UL in the NFCA Poll. This week, however, they are #9. UL and LSU swapped places from last week. Polls don't really mean anything, but it's interesting to see how some people think. IT is also a huge compliment to the UL program to be so highly ranked. Look at the company we keep; Arizona, Cal, UCLA, Stanford, all the big dolls from the West. All 2004 World Series Teams. Except AZ, which we kept out, of course. :-)