Simpson ascends the national rankings

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Prior to being swept by Central in the Iowa Conference opener on Wednesday, the Simpson softball team climbed to No. 12 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Top 25 Poll, released earlier in the day.

NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll - April 3, 2013

The Storm – who were 21-3 when the rankings were released – moved up two spots from a tie for 14th the week before. Simpson is one of four Iowa Conference teams in the rankings, as Luther (No. 9), Coe (No. 15) and Central (No. 21) also made the cut.

The top five teams in the nation remained the same from the previous week. Montclair State (16-0) held steady at No. 1, followed by Emory (37-1), Illinois Wesleyan (12-2), Texas Tyler (24-2) and Trine (16-2).

The Storm (21-5, 0-2 Iowa Conference) look for their first league wins of the season when they travel to Dubuque for a doubleheader with the Spartans on Saturday, April 6.