KANSAS CITY, MO. (March 6, 2024) – For the first time in program history, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has been selected to the No. 1 spot in the first regular season NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Rating. OLLU secured 14-of-18 first-place votes, while the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) climbed into second with one first-place vote, and Georgia Gwinnett climbed into third after receiving three first-place votes.

History

The Saints claimed the No. 7 rank in the Preseason NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 release in November with 431 points.

The Saints finished out the 2023 season ranked second. They marked a 51-8 record and owned the NAIA's longest win streak at 35 games from Feb. 25 through May 5.

The Saints jumped to No. 2 from No. 7 on March 8, and were No. 2 for the third poll in a row. In the preseason poll, the team was ranked 15^th. They had debuted at No. 25 earlier in 2022. The Saints had received votes since the first season of competition in 2010. Their most votes were 21 during that first year. In 2012, the Saints received 20 votes, and in 2013, the most votes they received was 44. In the following year, the Saints received 57 votes in 2014, and in 2015, the most votes the Saints received was 88. In 2016, the team received 10 votes. The last time the Saints received votes was in 2018, with 80 votes.

2024 season

The Saints started the spring season with four straight wins including to the then No. 8 ranked Central Methodist University 4-3. The Saints defeated No. 6 ranked USAO 2-1 and 7-2. They went on to beat No. 9 ranked Oklahoma City University 4-1. OLLU's only loss of the season was against Central Washington University 4-6 on Feb. 7. They currently own the NAIA's second longest win streak at 15.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, "A #1 national ranking just means that this group of players have come together and bought into doing the little things and sacrificing the big things to be the best teammates they can be. This will motivate our players to keep working to achieve their goals."

Cassandra Valdez holds the NAIA record in home runs this season with eight and is fourth in the NAIA in strikeouts with 83. She said, "We are definitely getting the recognition we deserve; it's a testament to all the hard work, dedication and talent of our team. This is only just the beginning to a great year, with a talented group of women. It's such a good feeling to see that we are #1 in the nation after everything we have been through as a team, and everything we have been able to overcome. I'm excited to see what other good things are in store for us."

The Saints softball team is only the second team at OLLU to be ranked No. 1. In the 2015-2016 season, the women's basketball team was ranked first for six weeks.

Rating Methodology

• The rating was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
• Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered "receiving votes"
• For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.

Dropped from Top 25: Southeastern (Fla.). Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Baker (Kan.)

Receiving Votes: Southeastern (Fla.) 85; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 79; Benedictine (Kan.) 71; Arizona Christian 60; LSU Alexandria (La.) 55; Rio Grande (Ohio) 42; Madonna (Mich.) 38; Vanguard (Calif.) 17; Baker (Kan.) 15; Campbellsville (Ky.) 9; Friends (Kan.) 5; British Columbia (B.C.) 5; Missouri Baptist 3