KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- NDC Softball has been tabbed as the No. 19 program in the nation, according to the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released on Tuesday, Feb. 2.  (NAIA Release)

Notre Dame earned 263 total points in the poll, which was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the NAIA's 26 conferences.  NDC finished the 2009 campaign as the No. 25-ranked team in the nation.

No other AMC squad made the Top-25 in the poll. Defending national champion California Baptist was selected as the No. 1 team in the country. The poll . The first regular-season poll will be announced on March 23. 

The Falcons return five starters and seven letter winners from last year's 34-11 squad that swept the AMC regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2009 NAIA National Championship Tournament.  The Blue & White are scheduled to open their season at the Smash Hit Tournament in Savannah, Ga., on Feb. 27.