AZUSA, Calif. – For the first time in university history, every Cougar sport that can be is currently ranked in their respective NAIA Coaches’ Poll. With softball’s jump into NAIA national poll this week, all 12 Cougars sports whose national coaches’ association conduct polls are nationally-ranked (men’s and women’s track & field does not produce team polls).

 

On the strength of victories over nationally-ranked Biola, Vanguard and Concordia, Azusa Pacific softball climbed back into the NAIA Coaches Poll at No. 21 this week, the Cougars’ first appearance in the Top 25 in 2 years. They join Cougar baseball (No. 4), men’s tennis (No. 2) and women’s tennis (No. 6) as nationally-ranked teams in this week’s respective NAIA Coaches’ Polls released on Wednesday (April 2).

 

Interestingly, 9 of the 12 nationally-ranked Cougar teams appear in the Top 10. Final polls have been completed for 8 sports with only baseball, softball and men’s and women’s tennis still involved in weekly rankings.

 

Though national polls have little, if any, bearing on the Directors’ Cup standings, they nonetheless indicate that Azusa Pacific has the wherewithal to vie for a fourth straight cup title.

 

In the past, Azusa Pacific has had as many as 10 sports nationally-ranked at the same time in a given year, and even had such firsts as all 6 fall sports (football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country and volleyball) nationally-ranked at the same time (a first in NAIA history), but never before have 12 NAIA Coaches’ Polls each listed Azusa Pacific at the same somewhere in the Top 25.

 

Men’s Soccer (final)....................... 1

Men’s Tennis.................................. 2

Women’s Soccer (final)...................2

Women’s Cross Country (final).......3

Baseball......................................... 4

Women’s Volleyball (final).............. 5

Women’s Tennis..............................6

Men’s Cross Country (final)............ 6

Women’s Basketball (final)............. 9

Men’s Basketball (final).................. 12

Softball........................................... 21

Football (final).................................21