OFFICIAL NFCA TOP 25 POLL

TACOMA, Wash. — A four game road sweep and clinching the program's first Northwest Conference title since 2003 didn't move the needle in the eyes of the national voters with the Pacific Lutheran University softball squad remaining 21st in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/GoRout Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll released on Tuesday.

The Lutes (32-8, 24-4 NWC) secured 50 points in the poll, sitting 21st over and 10 points behind 20th-ranked Husson University (29-4). PLU remains one of top NWC squads in the rankings with regular season runner-up Linfield University (33-6) moving up one spot to seventh in the nation.

Virginia Welseyan University (40-0) remains the nation's top team with 150 points and all 10 first place votes. Defending national champion Trine University (26-2) remains No. 2 while Texas Lutheran University (35-4) moves up two spots to third. Washington University in Saint Louis (25-3-1) and University of Redlands (32-4) round out the top five.

PLU secured the NWC title over the weekend after sweeping Whitworth University to close the regular season on a six game win streak. The Lutes pummeled the Pirates 15-0 and 6-0 on Saturday before coming back on Sunday with 4-1 and 12-0 victories.

The Lutes open the NWC Tournament on Friday morning, hosting fourth seed George Fox University at 10 a.m. to begin the double elimination tournament.