University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Ragin' Cajuns Now Top 5 in Both National Polls
3/8/2016 5:15:00 PM | Softball
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team is now ranked inside the Top 5 of both national polls following the release of the latest rankings on Tuesday.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns moved up one spot to No. 5 and entered the Top 5 of the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll for the first time this season. Louisiana is among the NFCA's Top 5 for the first time since Feb. 24, 2015.
Â
The No. 5 billing in the NFCA poll now mirrors the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 ranking which listed Louisiana (17-1) at No. 5 last Tuesday. The Ragin' Cajuns maintained the No. 5 spot in this week's edition of the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
Â
A second straight week in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 5 marks the first consecutive weeks with a Top 5 ranking for the Ragin' Cajuns since the May 5 and May 12 NFCA polls of 1999.
Â
ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll
USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll
Â
The rise into the Top 5 for Louisiana, preseason ranked No. 11 in both polls, began when the squad joined the Top 10 of both polls on Feb. 16 following a 5-0 run through the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., during the season-opening weekend.
Â
After the season-opening weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns rose to No. 7 in the NFCA poll on Feb. 16, then held steady at No. 6 the following two weeks (Feb. 23, Mar. 1) prior to this week's Top 5 entrance.
Â
Louisiana climbed in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll three straight weeks before settling into the Top 5 on March 1. Â The path to the Top 5 started at No. 8 on Feb. 16, followed by No. 6 on Feb. 23 and then the current No. 5 slot on March 1.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns are joined in the Top 5 of this week's USA Today/NFCA poll by three SEC schools (Florida, Auburn, LSU) and Michigan (Big 10).
Â
In addition to Louisiana, the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 5 includes three SEC schools (Florida, Alabama, Auburn) and Michigan (Big 10).
Â
The current week's Top 5 ranking ensures that Louisiana is a part of the Top 10 of the USA Today/NFCA ranking for 16th time in the past 19 polls and Top 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll for the 15th time in the past 19 polls, dating back to the start of the 2015 season.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns are the lone Sun Belt Conference school ranked in either of the Top 25 polls. UT Arlington (18-0) is receiving votes in both polls, while Texas State (17-5) is among the teams receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
Â
Future games with ranked opponents include No. 22/21 Baylor (March 29 doubleheader) and Florida (April 16-17 three-game series), the nation's consensus No. 1 team.
Â
The No. 5-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team returns to Lamson Park this week carrying an 11-game win streak into a series of four games that are scheduled at the friendly confines. The week begins with a 6 p.m. single game, weather permitting, against Longwood University on Wednesday, March 9 and concludes with the Sun Belt Conference opening series featuring South Alabama set for Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13.
Â
Season ticket packages for all 2016 regular season games at Lamson Park, starting at $106, remain on sale through the Ragin' Cajuns Ticket Office. Fans can purchase season tickets via phone at (337) 265-2100, online at RaginCajuns.com or by visiting the Cajundome Box Office in-person Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Â
Fans who purchase season tickets have the benefit of the same seat location at every game and receive priority access to any NCAA postseason games hosted at Lamson Park.
Â
For more information on Ragin' Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).
Â
RAGIN' CAJUNS IN THE 2016 POLLS
Week                   NFCA     ESPN/USA
Preseason              11               11
Feb. 15-21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8
Feb. 22-28Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6
Feb. 29-Mar. 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
Mar. 7-13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
Â
RAGIN' CAJUNS IN TOP 5 OF NFCA POLL
2016: March 8
2015: Feb. 24
2012: May 1
1999: March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, May 5, May 12
1996: April 24, May 1, May 7, May 28 (FINAL)
1995: Week 10, Week 12
Â
RAGIN' CAJUNS IN TOP 5 OF USA SOFTBALL POLL
2016: March 1, March 8
Â
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns moved up one spot to No. 5 and entered the Top 5 of the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll for the first time this season. Louisiana is among the NFCA's Top 5 for the first time since Feb. 24, 2015.
Â
The No. 5 billing in the NFCA poll now mirrors the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 ranking which listed Louisiana (17-1) at No. 5 last Tuesday. The Ragin' Cajuns maintained the No. 5 spot in this week's edition of the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
Â
A second straight week in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 5 marks the first consecutive weeks with a Top 5 ranking for the Ragin' Cajuns since the May 5 and May 12 NFCA polls of 1999.
Â
ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll
USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll
Â
The rise into the Top 5 for Louisiana, preseason ranked No. 11 in both polls, began when the squad joined the Top 10 of both polls on Feb. 16 following a 5-0 run through the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., during the season-opening weekend.
Â
After the season-opening weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns rose to No. 7 in the NFCA poll on Feb. 16, then held steady at No. 6 the following two weeks (Feb. 23, Mar. 1) prior to this week's Top 5 entrance.
Â
Louisiana climbed in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll three straight weeks before settling into the Top 5 on March 1. Â The path to the Top 5 started at No. 8 on Feb. 16, followed by No. 6 on Feb. 23 and then the current No. 5 slot on March 1.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns are joined in the Top 5 of this week's USA Today/NFCA poll by three SEC schools (Florida, Auburn, LSU) and Michigan (Big 10).
Â
In addition to Louisiana, the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 5 includes three SEC schools (Florida, Alabama, Auburn) and Michigan (Big 10).
Â
The current week's Top 5 ranking ensures that Louisiana is a part of the Top 10 of the USA Today/NFCA ranking for 16th time in the past 19 polls and Top 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll for the 15th time in the past 19 polls, dating back to the start of the 2015 season.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns are the lone Sun Belt Conference school ranked in either of the Top 25 polls. UT Arlington (18-0) is receiving votes in both polls, while Texas State (17-5) is among the teams receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
Â
Future games with ranked opponents include No. 22/21 Baylor (March 29 doubleheader) and Florida (April 16-17 three-game series), the nation's consensus No. 1 team.
Â
The No. 5-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team returns to Lamson Park this week carrying an 11-game win streak into a series of four games that are scheduled at the friendly confines. The week begins with a 6 p.m. single game, weather permitting, against Longwood University on Wednesday, March 9 and concludes with the Sun Belt Conference opening series featuring South Alabama set for Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13.
Â
Season ticket packages for all 2016 regular season games at Lamson Park, starting at $106, remain on sale through the Ragin' Cajuns Ticket Office. Fans can purchase season tickets via phone at (337) 265-2100, online at RaginCajuns.com or by visiting the Cajundome Box Office in-person Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Â
Fans who purchase season tickets have the benefit of the same seat location at every game and receive priority access to any NCAA postseason games hosted at Lamson Park.
Â
For more information on Ragin' Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).
Â
RAGIN' CAJUNS IN THE 2016 POLLS
Week                   NFCA     ESPN/USA
Preseason              11               11
Feb. 15-21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8
Feb. 22-28Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6
Feb. 29-Mar. 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
Mar. 7-13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
Â
RAGIN' CAJUNS IN TOP 5 OF NFCA POLL
2016: March 8
2015: Feb. 24
2012: May 1
1999: March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, May 5, May 12
1996: April 24, May 1, May 7, May 28 (FINAL)
1995: Week 10, Week 12
Â
RAGIN' CAJUNS IN TOP 5 OF USA SOFTBALL POLL
2016: March 1, March 8
Â
#GeauxCajuns
Alyson Habetz Media Availability (May 4, 2025)
Monday, May 05
Alyson Habetz, Mia Norwood, and Dayzja Williams Media Availability (April 28, 2025)
Monday, April 28
Alyson Habetz Media Availability (April 21, 2025)
Monday, April 21
Alyson Habetz, Emily Smith, And Mallory Wheeler Media Availability (April 14, 2025)
Monday, April 14
