Southeastern Softball Debuts At No. 2 In National Poll

Southeastern saw its outstanding start to the season rewarded in a big way by climbing to No. 2 in the season's first NFCA Division II National Poll.

The Savage Storm make the poll's largest jump, moving from unranked and not receiving votes to No. 2 in the nation with one first-place vote, 29 points behind top-ranked Valdosta State.

The jump comes on the heels of a 14-3 start to the season that includes a perfect 6-0 performance at the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic in which they beat three-straight preseason top-10 teams.

Three of the teams SE beat are still in the poll, including the team the Storm downed for the tournament championship, West Texas A&M, which is ranked third with a first place vote.

Augustana, SE's first opponent in the event, slipped from No. 8 to No. 16, while Texas Woman's, SE's opponent in the semifinals, climbed to No. 14.

The top five also includes North Georgia in fourth and Cal State-Dominguez Hills in fifth.

The jump puts the Storm back in the top 10 for the first time since the 2009 season.

The No. 2 ranking is also the highest ranking for a Great American Conference school.

While no other GAC schools are in the poll, three other Central Region rivals are ranked, with Central Oklahoma at No. 8, Emporia State at No. 12 and Augustana at No. 16.

The Storm will open conference play against rival East Central with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Feb. 22 and another twinbill slated for Feb. 23 at 11 a.m.