NFCA/USA Today Top 25 Poll
UCS Top 25 Poll
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Poll

OKLAHOMA CITY - The University of Hawai'i softball team (28-11, 6-0 WAC) cracked the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today Division I Top 25 for the first time since 2008. After receiving votes in five of eight previous polls this season, the 'Bows finally broke through and joined the poll as the only new team this week at No. 25. 

Hawai'i last appeared in the NFCA poll in 2008, when they spent 10 of 15 weeks in the Top 25. Their last NFCA ranking was No. 24 in Week 11 of that year.

The Rainbow Wahine also broke through in the Ultimate College Softball Top 25 poll at No. 22 for the first time this season, but UH is still on the fringe of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.

Hawai'i enters this week with a 28-11 overall record. The 'Bows are atop the Western Athletic Conference standings after sweeping both San Jose State and New Mexico State to start the conference season. Currently UH is on the road in Logan, Utah to play conference games at Utah State (14-15, 3-2 WAC). Today's game was snowed out, but the two teams will try to get tomorrow's doubleheader in starting at 1:00 p.m. Following the Utah State series, the 'Bows will have one day to travel before playing their first ever games at Boise State. The Broncos (14-21, 4-2 WAC) took one of three games last week at Fresno State.

As a team, UH's offense is amongst the nation's elite, hitting a combined .297 while outscoring their opponents 257-121 in 39 games. The team's 257 runs ranks 12th nationally. But, it is their eye-popping power numbers that makes the 'Bows stand out. Hawai'i now leads the nation in home runs per game (2.05) after launching 13 home runs this past week in three games, bringing their season total to 80. The Rainbow Wahine are now just four homers short of tying the school's record of 84 set by UH's 2007 Super Regional squad. All nine of UH's offensive starters have all hit at least five home runs and have at least 12 RBI each. Overall, 13 players have hit at least one home run this year. In addition to the home runs, Hawai'i has also hit 54 doubles and three doubles in addition to their home runs, giving the team 137 extra base hits and a .586 slugging percentage.

Freshman centerfielder, Kelly Majam, continues her assault on UH's home run record in her rookie season. For the second week in a row, Majam leads the nation, with 20 home runs and is just one shy of tying former UH All-American, Kate Robinson's school record of 21, which was set in 2008. Currently Majam, UH's centerfielder and lead-off hitter, leads the 'Bows and the WAC with 49 hits, 42 runs scored, and 120 total bases. Majam also leads UH with two triples, 37 RBI, a .945 slugging percentage and .477 on-base percentage, plus she has yet to make an error in centerfield. Fellow freshman, shortstop Jessica Iwata, is now second on the team with a .361 average overall and she leads UH with a .538 average in conference games. Iwata has a team-high14 doubles overall and is third on the team with 33 runs scored. Junior third baseman Melissa Gonzalez has continued to post solid numbers and is third on the team with a .361 average (44-for-122) and she has scored 24 runs with five doubles, a triple and 10 home runs.

Ironically, UH's top four hitters statistically for the 'Bows are also the first four hitters in the UH line-up in the same exact order: Majam (.386), Iwata (.361), Gonzalez (.361), and Jenna Rodriguez (.325).

Sophomore Stephanie Ricketts and freshman, Kaia Parnaby have become a formidable one-two punch in the pitching circle. Ricketts is 13-6 this season and 4-0 in the WAC with 16 complete games. She has 94 strike outs and 52 walks in 109.2 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .234 average. Parnaby is 14-5 overall and 2-0 in conference. Overall, she has tossed 14 complete games in 18 starts and has six shut-outs under her belt and brings a 2.11 ERA into this week's series. In 109.2 innings she has fanned 138 batters while walking just 29. 

Head Coach Bob Coolen is in his 19th season and closing in on yet another milestone in his stellar coaching career. Currently, Coolen has a 695-423-1 record at the University of Hawai'i, overall, he is 767-516-1 in a career that spans 24 seasons.