The Lady Statesmen, who were 40-18 a year ago (MCC-best 28-4), are ranked 21st in the Division with 245 points. It is the same position in which Penn ended the 2009 regular season.

The ranking matches the highest for the program since it was #15 in the 2008 preseason poll on January 30, 2008.

Defending national champion California Baptist is the 2010 preseason #1 with 653 points and all 23 first-place votes. Dickinson State (N.D.) is second, while Oklahoma City and Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) are tied for third. Lubbock Christian (Texas) rounds out the top five.

Although they were picked second behind Grand View (preseason #36) by the league's coaches in the MCC's preseason poll, the Lady Statesmen are the defending conference champions and therefore were chosen ahead of the Vikings nationally.

Penn is the highest ranked and, in fact, the only top-25 squad in Iowa as Morningside is next with the #31 ranking (59 points).

The Lady Statesmen open the season on February 26 at the MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) Tournament, facing off against two teams, Bethany (Kan.) and Ottawa (Kan.), who are receiving votes.

The team's tough non-conference slate has Penn meeting eight teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the preseason rating, highlighted by #17 Saint Xavier (Ill.) and #25 McKendree (Ill.). The Lady Statesmen will also face Evangel (Mo.), Rogers State (Okla.), Bellevue (Neb.), and Midland Lutheran (Neb.), all who are receiving votes, in 2010.

NAIA Softball Preseason Rating - February 2, 2010
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
(Iowa Institutions bolded)
1. California Baptist (23)
2. Dickinson State (N.D.)
3. Oklahoma City
3. Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.)
5. Lubbock Christian (Texas)
6. William Carey (Miss.)
7. Bethel (Ind.)
8. Martin Methodist (Tenn.)
9. Simon Fraser (B.C.)
10. St. Gregory's (Okla.)
11. Concordia (Calif.)
12. Shorter (Ga.)
13. Houston-Victoria (Texas)
14. Madonna (Mich.)
15. College of Idaho
16. Lee (Tenn.)
17. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
18. Mobile (Ala.)
19. Notre Dame (Ohio)
20. California State-San Marcos
21. William Penn
22. Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.)
23. Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.)
24. Campbellsville (Ky.)
25. McKendree (Ill.)

Others Receiving Votes: Evangel (Mo.) 103; Marian (Ind.) 86; Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 77; Brenau (Ga.) 73; Georgetown (Ky.) 64; Morningside 59; Bellevue (Neb.) 59; Southern Oregon 40; Union (Tenn.) 32; Warner (Fla.) 25; Grand View 19; Robert Morris (Ill.) 18; Belhaven (Miss.) 14; Rogers State (Okla.) 13; Holy Names (Calif.) 11; Milligan (Tenn.) 11; Concordia (Ore.) 11; Bethany (Kan.) 10; Columbia (Mo.) 7; Northwood (Texas) 4; Central Methodist (Mo.) 4; Midland Lutheran (Neb.) 3; Bethel (Tenn.) 1; Ottawa (Kan.) 1; Indiana-Southeast 1; Lindenwood (Mo.) 1; Hastings (Neb.) 1; Bacone (Okla.) 1; Friends (Kan.) 1; Asbury (Ky.) 1.