Staff Report

The UK softball team will open the 2012 season with its first ever preseason ranking, according to a UK Media Relations press release.

On Tuesday the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll ranked head coach Rachel Lawson’s Cats No. 13 and No. 18 in the respective polls.

“We are very appreciative of the early recognition in the ESPN/USA Top 25,” Lawson said. “It is our program’s intention to not only live up to this expectation, but to also build throughout the season in the hope of exceeding it.”

After entering the polls following the first weekend of play in 2011, the Cats haven’t fell out of the top 25 since, making it 16 consecutive polls that they have remained among the top teams in the country.

A group of seniors that includes UK career home run record holder Brittany Cervantes, 2011 team co-MVP Rachel Riley and 2011 team defensive player of the year Chanda Bell, will be key in continuing that streak of poll appearances for the Cats this season.

The UK softball season opens on Feb. 9 when the Cats travel to Los Angeles to take on No.19/13 UCLA.

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