LOUISVILLE, Ky. - On the heels of one of the most successful seasons in school history, Anderson finished the 2014 campaign ranked 22nd in the final National Fastpitch Coaches (NFCA) Division II softball poll, as released Friday afternoon.

The Trojans were the lone representative from the South Atlantic Conference, as fellow league-member Lenoir-Rhyne dropped two of three contests in the NCAA's Dahlonega, Ga. regional and slipped from its No. 24 ranking in the poll. Wingate, also competing at North Georgia, closed the season by receiving votes in the poll.

The Trojans were ranked 21st in the initial preseason poll and steadily climbed as high as 14th in early March, but slipped from the rankings after dropping four of six contests midway through the season. AU re-entered the poll in early May at No. 16 after claiming a share of the SAC regular-season title and the SAC Tournament Championship and was ranked 17th heading into the NCAA Southeast Regional.

A successful run to the program's first national championship at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va., helped West Texas A&M (60-7) finish off an historic campaign as the unanimous choice for No. 1 in the final rankings.

Holding down the top position for the majority of the season, the Lady Buffs received all 16 possible first-place votes following their unbeaten run through the NCAA Division II Softball Championship, finishing 16 points ahead of national runner-up and second-ranked Valdosta State (48-15) in the last poll of the campaign. During what was a scoreless national title tilt until the seventh inning, the Blazers battled WT A&M to the very end, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision in the championship game.

The remainder of the national top eight consisted of this year's participants at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. National semifinalists Dixie State (51-10) and Southeastern Oklahoma State (45-20) held down slots No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Armstrong Atlantic (36-15), West Chester (42-22), Wayne State (MI) (46-12) and LIU Post (50-11) rounded out the top eight in that order.

A berth in NCAA Super Regionals was enough to help St. Mary's (TX) (50-14) leap from 14th into the ninth position, while North Georgia (47-11) rounded out the top 10 after losing two-of-three contests during a hard-fought super regional against national tournament participant Armstrong Atlantic.

New entrants to the final poll included No. 4 Southeastern Oklahoma State, No. 6 West Chester, No. 7 Wayne State (MI), No. 17 West Virginia Wesleyan (46-15) and No. 25 Rollins (39-13).

The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Final 2014 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

NFCA Division II Softball Poll - May 30, 2014
Rank Team 2014
Record Totals Last Poll
1 West Texas A&M (16) 60-7 400 1
2 Valdosta State 48-15 384 16
3 Dixie State 51-10 360 15
4 Southeastern Okla. St. 45-20 352 NR
5 Armstrong Atl. State 36-15 341 19
6 West Chester 42-22 316 NR
7 Wayne State (MI) 46-12 308 RV
8 LIU Post 50-11 291 20
9 St. Mary's (TX) 50-14 249 14
10 North Georgia 47-11 237 2
11 Cal State Monterey Bay 48-12 233 3
12 Alabama-Huntsville 48-12 229 8
13 Missouri-St. Louis 49-8 204 6
14 Caldwell 45-9 165 9
15 Augustana (SD) 46-15 160 23
16 Angelo State 41-16 150 7
17 West Virginia Wesleyan 46-15 136 RV
18 Tampa 33-8 123 5
19 California Baptist 46-13 115 21
20 Emporia State 49-14 98 18
21 Indianapolis 44-13 92 13
22 Anderson (SC) 43-12 74 17
23 California (Pa.) 37-7 46 12
24 Winona State 48-9 36 10
25 Rollins 39-13 25 RV

Dropped Out of Poll: No. 4 Humboldt State (46-16), No. 11 Minnesota State Mankato (43-13), No. 22 Shippensburg (36-17), No. 24 Lenoir-Rhyne (40-15), No. 25 Truman State (43-13).
Others Receiving Votes: Texas Woman's (20), Central Washington (14), Humboldt State (13), Truman State (8), Minnesota State Mankato (6), Wingate (6), Southern New Hampshire (5), Shippensburg (3), UVa-Wise (1).