TAMPA ? The University of South Florida softball team is listed as receiving votes in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 pre-season NCAA Division I softball poll.

“I thought it was a nice recognition for a team to come off a decent 2008 season to receive national attention,” said USF head coach Ken Eriksen. “Obviously, we will try to quickly move up in the polls but the same to be recognized as a team that has been working very hard to be thought of as a top-30 team.”

University of Florida (70-5 in 2008) is ranked as the best team in the nation, followed by Arizona State (66-5) and Alabama (58-8).

Four of USF's 2009 opponents are ranked in the Top 25, one of which is a  BIG EAST rival. Florida (70-5) will host the Bulls in the University of Florida Tournament, Feb. 28-Mar. 1. DePaul (51-18) tops the league rankings at No. 15, as well as being the BIG EAST favorite. Other 2009 opponents on the list are No. 7 Arizona (41-19) and No. 20 Virginia Tech (49-19), while UMass, Hofstra, Notre Dame and Jacksonville State all received votes.

A young squad, the Bulls will be led by just four seniors, but are stacked with six juniors, four sophomores and six rookies. All-BIG EAST senior Britta Giddens and junior JoJo Medina will return for the 2009 season.

USF opens the 2009 season with the Louisville Slugger Tournament held at the USF Softball Field. The Bulls start with UNC Greensboro and Illinois State on Friday, Feb. 6, then play Minnesota and North Florida on Saturday and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday.

The complete schedule can be found at GoUSFBulls.com.

2009 USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Preseason Poll 

Others Receiving Votes:
UMass 68, Mississippi State 46, Iowa 43, USF 42, Hofstra 27, Oklahoma State 19, BYU 17, Hawai'i 15, Notre Dame 12, Nebraska 8, Purdue 8, Central Florida 8, Creighton 6, Auburn 6, Oregon 4, Oregon State 4, Jacksonville State 4, East Carolina 4, Louisiana Tech 3, Texas 2, UT-Chattanooga 2.