Corban's Record-Setting Squad Featured in Preseason Poll

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(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) - After a record-setting season last year that saw Corban's softball team come within one win of advancing to its first-ever national tournament, the Warriors are ranked in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' (NAIA) preseason poll as announced Tuesday by the national office.

"It is an honor to be recognized in this year's preseason poll," said fourth-year head coach Nathan Ohta. "Our program has been steadily improving for the last four years, and to be recognized with the nation's elite teams is a big step in the right direction for us. We had a great finish to our season last year, and we are excited to get back on the field and continue to work toward achieving the goals we've set."

Following a 2009 season in which Corban won a school-record 24 games and became the first team in program history to register a winning mark, the Warriors are tied for 48th in the country along with fellow Cascade Collegiate Conference member Oregon Tech. Defending conference champions Concordia are ranked No. 4 behind California Baptist (550 points), defending NAIA national champions Simon Fraser (547 points), and William Carey (510 points).

Ohta returns 12 players from last year's roster, including NAIA All-American 2nd team member and sophomore Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.), to go along with six incoming players that includes a trio of transfers and three high school seniors.

With 65.8% of its offense back from last season, Corban will look to continue adding to the record book while also relying heavily on a pitching staff that features all-conference honorable mention ace Makenzie Marchbanks (Sweet Home, Ore.).

Corban will step onto the diamond for the first time in 2011 on February 10th for a pair of games against California Pacific Conference member William Jessup and Golden State Athletic Conference member and the NAIA's 35th-ranked Biola. The Warriors will battle the William Jessup at 12:00 p.m. before facing off against the Eagles at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be played on the campus of William Jessup in Rocklin, California.

TO VIEW THE NAIA PRESEASON POLL, 2011 NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll Announced

Source: Corban University corban.edu