The Northwestern College softball team has matched its highest ranking in program history. In the second ratings of the regular season released Wednesday, the Raiders sit 11th in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25, up three rungs from 14th two weeks ago. Northwestern was also ranked 11th in the seventh poll of the 2000 season. The Raiders reached as high as 12th last season and currently sit with a record of 22-2 as they get set to begin the 22-game GPAC schedule next Tuesday at home against Mount Marty.
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) [18] | 27-1 | 498 |
| 2 | 5 | Oklahoma City | 22-2 | 481 |
| 3 | 4 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 18-3 | 456 |
| 4 | 2 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 18-5 | 435 |
| 5 | 6 | Oregon Tech | 16-6 | 431 |
| 6 | 9 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 22-4 | 426 |
| 7 | 10 | Marian (Ind.) | 16-2 | 391 |
| 8 | 11 | Jessup (Calif.) | 20-4 | 388 |
| 9 | 3 | Georgia Gwinnett | 18-7 | 380 |
| 10 | 8 | Southern Oregon | 17-8 | 352 |
| 11 | 14 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 22-2 | 327 |
| 12 | 7 | Hope International (Calif.) | 24-7 | 314 |
| 13 | 13 | Mobile (Ala.) | 14-7 | 303 |
| 13 | 12 | Midland (Neb.) | 21-4 | 303 |
| 15 | 14 | Eastern Oregon | 15-5 | 259 |
| 16 | 18 | Grand View (Iowa) | 16-3 | 256 |
| 17 | 16 | Indiana Wesleyan | 15-3 | 252 |
| 18 | 19 | Coastal Georgia | 18-3 | 241 |
| 19 | 21 | William Carey (Miss.) | 17-7 | 210 |
| 20 | 17 | Middle Georgia State | 15-7 | 172 |
| 21 | 22 | College of Idaho | 17-7 | 157 |
| 22 | NR | Vanguard (Calif.) | 24-6 | 134 |
| 23 | 23 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 19-9 | 123 |
| 24 | NR | Madonna (Mich.) | 22-3 | 112 |
| 25 | 25 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 18-4 | 107 |
Dropped from Top 25: Saint Xavier (Ill.), Concordia (Mich.)
Receiving Votes: Saint Xavier (Ill.) 102; Benedictine (Kan.) 90; St. Thomas (Fla.) 62; LSU Alexandria (La.) 27; Missouri Baptist 26; Avila (Mo.) 21; Campbellsville (Ky.) 15; British Columbia 14; Baker (Kan.) 11; Concordia (Mich.) 8; Houston-Victoria (Texas) 8; Stillman (Ala.) 6; Southeastern (Fla.) 5; Arizona Christian 4
