INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team has been ranked ninth in this week’s NCAA South Regional Rankings.
 
The Blossoms enter this weekend with a 27-6 overall record, a 21-5 record against NCAA Division II teams and a 17-5 record against In-Region opponents.
 
Out of the other nine teams in this week’s rankings, five teams are out of the Sunshine State Conference, with the other four being from the Gulf South Conference.
 
Alabama-Huntsville (33-2 D2, 29-2 In-Region) sits atop the rankings after also being vaulted into the No. 1 overall spot in the nation. Following UAH, in order, are Florida Southern (28-10 D2, 24-10 In-Region), Valdosta State (31-5 D2, 31-5 In-Region), West Florida (26-7 D2, 19-7 In-Region), Nova Southeastern (35-11 D2, 32-11 In-Region), Rollins (33-6 D2, 21-5 In-Region), West Alabama (22-7 D2, 20-7 In-Region) and Tampa (24-6 D2, 14-4 In-Region). Barry (23-12 D2, 19-12 In-Region) rounds out the rankings at No. 10.
 
“This is such a tough region for softball,” said head coach Alvy Early. “Most of these teams are also ranked in the Top 25, but what really keeps them with such a strong regional ranking is the fact they all play each other. I think we have had a great season so far, but we still have a lot of work to do to get into the regional tournament.”
 
At the end of the season, the top eight teams of the region earn a berth into the NCAA South Regional Tournament, usually hosted by the No. 1 seed of each respective region. As of now, the No. 8 seed would be eliminated due to NCAA’s earned access rule, giving the winner of the SIAC  an automatic bid.
 
“The way I look at it, we have to move up to at least the No. 7 spot and hold onto that ranking for the rest of the season, so we can be assured of a spot in the regional tournament,” said Early. “We can only play the games on our schedule, so our fate rests in our hands.”