May 10, 2000
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Fresh off its second straight BIG EAST championship title, the Notre Dame softball team (46-12) rose to a #17 national ranking in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll released Wednesday. The #17 ranking ties the highest in program history as the 1994 squad also was ranked 17th in the NFCA preseason poll.
In 2000, the Irish spent the last three weeks at the 19th slot, after being ranked as high as 18th. Notre Dame entered the poll at the 22nd position on March 24, after receiving just one vote in the preseason poll.
The Irish will find out their destination for the regional round of the 48-team NCAA tournament this Sunday, May 13.