Jan. 25, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - One day after receiving an 18th place ranking in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, the Tiger softball squad was voted 23rd in the nation in the annual USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 preseason poll. Michigan received 21 votes to open the 2006 season in the No. 1 spot, with UCLA earning eight votes to stand in second. The USA Today/NFCA poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches representing each conference.

Six schools from the Big 12 Conference were ranked among the top-25 in the nation, with Texas garnering the highest mark at No. 4. Texas A&M (No. 9), Baylor (No. 11), Oklahoma (No. 12), Nebraska (No. 21) and Missouri (No. 23) round out the top 25. The Big 12 Conference stands second behind the Pacific 10 for most schools ranked among the top-25. The Pac-10 had seven teams named to the top-25.

The Tigers will face nine ranked opponents during the 2006 season in addition to three programs who received votes but stand just outside the top-25.

The last time the Missouri softball entered a season ranked came in 2000, where they started No. 24 in the nation.

Missouri will open the 2006 season in Atlanta, Ga., with a three-game series against No. 24/25 Georgia Tech, beginning Friday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. (CST).