Coming off of a record setting season and the university's first-ever national championship, the University of North Georgia softball team was unanimously voted the No. 1 team in the 2016 NFCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, the association announced on Wednesday.
The Nighthawks (54-8) received all 16 first-place votes and 400 points after winning five straight elimination games to claim the national title with a 5-0 victory over Dixie State. The national runner-up Red Storm (52-8) was tabbed second with 374 points.
Reaching the national semifinals in its first season of NCAA eligibility, Shorter University (43-17) comes in at the third spot, while the other semifinalist California (Pa.) (43-13) starts the season fourth with 345 points. NCAA participant Indianapolis (48-15) received 344 points to round out the top five.
The Nighthawks are slated play six games against four teams in the initial Top 25 poll of 2016, including a pair of games this weekend against No. 18 Alabama-Huntsville and No. 6 Valdosta State. UNG will open its season against North Alabama, who is receiving votes in the preseason poll.
North Georgia and Georgia College are the only two schools representing the Peach Belt Conference in the poll, while Armstrong State is receiving votes.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/1/365664/defending-national-champion-north-georgia-softball-voted-unanimous-no-1-in-preseason