Feb. 19, 2008

LAS VEGAS - After going undefeated in last weekend's Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, the UNLV Rebels are now ranked in both major collegiate softball polls. The Rebels, who are 9-1-1 overall, jumped from 23rd to 18th in this week's ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, while they went from the receiving votes category (26th) to 21st in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll.

The Rebels are riding an eight-game unbeaten streak and have won six straight since tying Washington, 4-4, on Feb. 10.

For the second straight week, UNLV and the Georgia Bulldogs are tied in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings. Both squads were deadlocked at 23rd last week and are now tied for 18th. The Rebels and Bulldogs will square off this weekend in the Palm Springs Classic (Feb. 21-24) at Cathedral City, Calif., on Feb. 23 (8:00 pm). The ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll was created in 2003.

This is the first time since 1997 that UNLV has been ranked by the NFCA, which began ranking teams in 1995. The Rebels were common fixtures in the NFCA Poll, as they were ranked from the first week in 1995 until the third poll in 1997. The program achieved its highest ranking following the conclusion of the 1995 Women's College World Series when the team finished third.

It will only get tougher for UNLV, as they face some stiff competition at the Palm Springs Classic this weekend. The Rebels will open up play on Thursday night, Feb. 21 vs. Fresno State (5:30 pm), who is receiving votes in both polls. On Friday, Feb. 22, the team will square off with Michigan State (10:00 am) and Texas (12:30 pm). The Longhorns sit 25th in the USA Today/NFCA Poll and are receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll. UNLV will play Stanford, who is 12th in the USA Today/NFCA Poll and 13th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll, on Saturday, Feb. 23 (10:00 am) before its game vs. Georgia. UNLV will close out the Classic with a tilt vs. Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 24 (1:00 pm).