LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After beginning the season with eight consecutive victories, the Anderson University softball team is ranked 21st in the first National Fastpitch Coaches (NFCA) Division II softball poll of the 2014 regular season, as released Wednesday afternoon morning.

After coming off a record-setting season a year ago and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Trojans were tabbed 20th in the NFCA Preseason Poll three weeks ago.

Joining the Trojans from the South Atlantic Conference was 24th-ranked Wingate, while the Peach Belt Conference's Armstrong Atlantic State (5th) and North Georgia (12th) were the other representatives from the Southeast Region.

Humboldt State (12-1) continued its national resurgence by ascending into the No. 1 spot. The Jacks received seven of 16 possible first-place votes to rise from fourth into the No. 1 spot. HSU sits on top by eight total points despite No. 2 West Texas A&M (13-0) actually earning more first-place nods (eight) this week from the NFCA Division II Top 25 committee. The Lady Buffs advanced all the way from eighth in the preseason poll into the second spot.

Following a 53-win campaign in 2013, Humboldt State has christened the 2014 campaign at 12-1 after sweeping through the Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., at 5-0 and, most recently, taking three-of-four match-ups from California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) foe Cal State San Bernardino.

Lone Star Conference power West Texas A&M has followed up last year's 44-win season with a perfect 13-0 start to 2014. The Lady Buffs wasted little time making an early-season impression nationwide by securing a big 5-4 win over then-No. 1 and defending national champion Central Oklahoma at the Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.

At 8-2 thus far in 2014, Alabama-Huntsville rose from ninth to third, taking over the position vacated by new No. 4 Grand Valley State (0-0). Armstrong Atlantic held steady at No. 5, while also picking up a first-place vote in the latest poll.

Slots six through 10 look completely different from those in the preseason as Texas Woman's (12-3) leapt from 14th to sixth, Tampa (5-0) advanced from No. 13 to No. 6, Augustana (4-1) skyrocketed 14 positions into eighth, California Baptist (11-2) rose from among the unranked all the way to No. 9 and LIU Post slid up one position into the 10th slot.

In all six teams dropped out of the first regular season poll of 2014, including preseason No. 1 and defending national champ Central Oklahoma (6-5), No. 7 Indianapolis (4-4), No. 10 Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-4), No. 12 St. Martin's (2-5), No. 17 Angelo State (9-5) and No. 25 Columbus State (9-4).

Additional teams new to this week's NFCA Division II poll included No. 14 (tie) Fort Hays State (5-1), No. 14 (tie) St. Mary's (TX - 10-3), No. 17 Wayne State (MI - 5-1), No. 24 Wingate (8-0) and No. 25 Emporia State (7-2).

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 2013 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

Anderson visits Peach Belt-foe Lander Thursday afternoon. First-pitch at Doug Spears Field is scheduled for 5 p.m.

NFCA Division II Softball Poll - February 19, 2014

Rank Team 2014
Record Totals Last Poll
1 Humboldt State (7) 12-1 390 4
2 West Texas A&M (8) 11-0 382 8
3 Alabama-Huntsville 8-2 352 9
4 Grand Valley State 0-0 351 3
5 Armstrong Atl. St. (1) 7-3 344 5
6 Texas Woman's Univ. 12-3 292 14
7 Tampa 5-0 272 13
8 Augustana (SD) 4-1 263 22
9 California Baptist 11-2 243 NR
10 LIU Post 0-0 232 11
11 Missouri-St. Louis 5-1 214 18
12 North Georgia 7-5 193 15
13 UC San Diego 8-2 163 21
14tie Fort Hays State 5-1 162 NR
14tie St. Mary's (TX) 10-3 162 RV
16 Barry 7-2 151 24
17 Wayne State 5-1 119 NR
18 Caldwell 0-0 112 19
19 Valdosta State 9-5 107 6
20 California (Pa.) 0-0 91 16
21 Anderson (SC) 8-0 87 20
22 Dixie State 9-2 84 23
23 Kutztown 1-3 80 2
24 Wingate 8-0 75 NR
25 Emporia State 7-2 69 NR