SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay softball team continued its historic climb up the national charts, reaching No. 4 in this week's top 25 poll conducted by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Otters moved up two spots after sweeping a four–game set from Humboldt State last weekend.

The Otters continued their steady climb over the past month. They ranked No. 6 last week and No. 10 before that. Prior to this season, they had never reached higher than No. 17.

“It's always nice to be recognized for the success we're having this season,” says CSUMB Head Coach Andrea Kenney. “But our focus remains on winning in arguably the strongest conference in the nation (the CCAA). We have a big series coming up against (No. 18) Cal State Dominguez Hills and that's the challenge in front of us.”

There were some shake ups in the top 25, with North Georgia moving to the top spot and Alabama–Huntsville falling from one to five after losing three times. Among CCAA schools, Chico State held steady at No. 9 and Cal State Dominguez Hills dropped from five to 18 after losing three of four at UC San Diego. UCSD moved up only one spot for its efforts while Sonoma State dropped from 23 to receiving votes after losing three of four at Chico State.

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#   SCHOOL                             RECORD  POINTS  LAST
1   North Georgia (14)                  26–4     393     2
2   Angelo State (Texas) (2)            22–3     379     3
3   Valdosta State (Ga.)                13–2     354     4
4   Cal State Monterey Bay              20–4     338     6
5   Alabama–Huntsville                  16–5     323     1
6   University of Indianapolis          14–1     316     7
7   Winona State (Minn.)                18–1     283    12
8   Barry University (Fla.)             22–5     258    11
9   Chico State                         18–5     254     9
10  Missouri Western                    19–4     238    13
11  Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.)            26–7     226     8
12  Kutztown University (Pa.)           13–1     217    RV
13  Rollins College (Fla.)              20–4     163    18
14  Bloomsburg University (Pa.)         10–2     157    17
15  Grand Valley State (Mich.)          12–1     151    21
16  Minn. State Mankato                 17–4     145    RV
17  Central Oklahoma                    19–3     132    RV
18  Cal State Dominguez Hills           25–6     129     5
19  University of Tampa                 21–3     120    20
19  West Texas A&M                      15–7     120    14
21  UC San Diego                        20–8     110    22
22  Southern Connecitcut State           6–0     101    NR
23  Augustana College (S.D.)            10–3      93    15
24  Abilene Christian (Texas)           15–4      50    19
25  Columbus State (Ga.)                19–9      45    24


Others Receiving Votes: California (Pa.) 21, Flagler 16, Mass.–Lowell 16, Tiffin 12, Tarleton St. 10, C.W. Post 9, Sonoma St. 7, Concordia–St. Paul 5, West Virginia Wesleyan 5, Florida Southern 1, Lenoir–Rhyne 1, Montana St. Billings 1, Texas Woman's 1

Italics indicate 2012 CSUMB opponent