Storm still mentioned among others receiving votes in NFCA Poll
INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson softball team is receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Poll for the third week in a row according to the latest rankings, released Wednesday, March 23.
The poll is selected by Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions and reflect results through Sunday, March 20.
The Storm (19-4) received 15 votes in the latest poll, up from seven last week. Simpson is on a three-game winning streak after rolling to a doubleheader sweep of Iowa Wesleyan last Saturday, beating the Tigers 17-2 and 21-2 at Simpson Softball Complex.
Simpson has a better winning percentage than 16 of the 25 teams above them in the poll. Included in that number is No. 11 Trine, which the Storm beat 3-2 earlier this season.
The Storm return to action Friday, April 1 when they host Wis.-La Crosse.
NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll - March 23, 2016
| Rank | Team (1st-place votes) | 2016 Record | Previous |
| 1 | Texas-Tyler (8) | 20-2 | 1 |
| 2 | Emory | 25-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Christopher Newport | 14-1 | 3 |
| 4 | Texas Lutheran | 20-1 | 4 |
| 5 | East Texas Baptist | 18-4 | 6 |
| 6 | Washington (Mo.) | 20-4 | t9 |
| 7 | Luther | 10-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Berry | 18-4 | t9 |
| 9 | Salisbury | 14-3 | 8 |
| 10 | Virginia Wesleyan | 13-4 | 11 |
| 11 | Trine | 9-5 | 13 |
| 12 | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps | 18-5-1 | 17 |
| 13 | St. John Fisher | 11-1 | 12 |
| 14 | Heidelberg | 9-1 | 14 |
| 15 | Illinois Wesleyan | 5-3 | 15 |
| 16 | Alma | 13-5 | 19 |
| 17 | Birmingham-Southern | 16-4 | 22 |
| 18 | Central | 12-6 | 21 |
| 19 | Moravian | 11-3 | 18 |
| t20 | Rowan | 13-5 | RV |
| t20 | St. Catherine | 15-9 | NR |
| t22 | Tufts | 1-2 | 5 |
| t22 | Messiah | 11-2 | 25 |
| 24 | Whitworth | 13-4 | NR |
| 25 | Linfield | 13-8 | 16 |
Others receiving votes: Simpson 15, St. Thomas 15, Lake Forest 12, Wis.-Eau Claire 10, Wisl-Oshkosh 8, Cortland 7, William Paterson 6, Ramapo 2, Wittenberg 2, Worcester Polytechnic 1.