Softball Ranked #17 In Preseason Poll
The Brenau Golden Tigers softball team opens the 2014 season in a familiar position garnering a #17 national ranking in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.
Led by head coach Devon Thomas, the Golden Tigers have become a perennial top 25 ranked program, finishing last season ranked #20 and with a 34-16 record.
The Golden Tigers return ten players from last year's squad, including NAIA All-American selection and SSAC Freshman of the Year Liz Schneider (Smyrna, Ga.) and All-Conference standout Jenny Shepherd (Martinez, Ga.).
2014 NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll (Jan. 21)
| RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2013 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Concordia (Calif.) (20) | 52-3 | 591 |
| 2 | 2 | Spring Hill (Ala.) (1) | 49-17 | 572 |
| 3 | 5 | Oklahoma City | 51-14 | 543 |
| 4 | 4 | Williams Baptist (Ark.) | 46-9 | 535 |
| T5 | 6 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 45-9 | 499 |
| T5 | 7 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 50-9 | 499 |
| 7 | 8 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) | 45-12 | 480 |
| 8 | 9 | Cal State San Marcos | 43-12 | 468 |
| 9 | 13 | Belhaven (Miss.) | 38-14 | 423 |
| 10 | 15 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 48-9 | 390 |
| 11 | 14 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 50-10 | 384 |
| 12 | 11 | USC Beaufort (S.C.) | 43-6 | 369 |
| 13 | 19 | College of Idaho | 36-23 | 354 |
| 14 | 17 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | 32-9 | 306 |
| T15 | NR | Oklahoma Baptist | 33-23 | 298 |
| T15 | 18 | Houston-Victoria (Texas) | 32-22 | 298 |
| 17 | 20 | Brenau (Ga.) | 34-16 | 279 |
| 18 | RV | Concordia (Ore.) | 35-23 | 221 |
| 19 | 16 | St. Gregory's (Okla.) | 35-17 | 215 |
| 20 | 22 | Bellevue (Neb.) | 43-11 | 209 |
| 21 | 25 | William Carey (Miss.) | 34-18 | 189 |
| 22 | 20 | Park (Mo.) | 31-11 | 184 |
| 23 | RV | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 35-12 | 172 |
| 24 | 21 | Friends (Kan.) | 43-8 | 167 |
| 25 | RV | Oregon Tech | 37-16 | 131 |
Others receiving votes: Indiana Southeast 123; Corban (Ore.) 60; Campbellsville (Ky.) 56; Davenport (Mich.) 55; Vanguard (Calif.) 54; Marian (Ind.) 53; Mobile (Ala.) 51; Central Baptist (Ark.) 32; William Woods (Mo.) 20; Virginia Intermont 15; Simpson (Calif.) 12; Columbia (Mo.) 7; Bethel (Ind.) 7; Grand View (Iowa) 5; LSU Alexandria 3.
^ Ranking from June 5, 2013 (2013 Postseason Top 25)