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NAIA
Madonna (Mich.) Softball Player throwing
Courtesy: MSH Visual, Official NAIA Softball World Series Photographer

Madonna (Mich.) Retains Top Spot in Postseason Poll After Securing Its First Red Banner

bmccall@naia.org
|
June 3, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2026 NAIA Softball National Champions highlight the postseason poll, with Madonna (Mich.) 13 points ahead of the 2026 NAIA Softball runners-up in Southeastern (Fla.), who also climbed heading into the offseason. The Crusaders were the only team to hold steady from the final regular-season poll back on April 29.

Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), Indiana Wesleyan, Southern Oregon, Mobile (Ala.), College of Idaho, Cumberlands (Ky.), British Columbia, and Marian (Ind.) all climbed as teams enter the off-season and look to open a new chapter in the fall. 

TRENDRANKLAST TIME INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES]RECORDPOINTS
 ●11Madonna (Mich.) [14]52-4 390
 ▲23 Southeastern (Fla.)51-10 377
 ▲311  Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)47-13 358
 ▲423 Indiana Wesleyan43-15 342
 ▲5T-6 Southern Oregon45-15 332
 ▲613 Mobile (Ala.)40-18 330
 ▲7RV College of Idaho38-22 273
 ▲817 Cumberlands (Ky.)40-21 271
 ▲9RV British Columbia32-24 265
 ▲1022 Marian (Ind.)38-18 258
 ▼115 Oklahoma City50-9 235
 ▼122 Oregon Tech43-10 230
 ▼13T-6 Eastern Oregon40-13 222
 ▼144 Science and Arts (Okla.)48-11 208
 ▼159 Keiser (Fla.)46-10 197
 ▼1612 William Carey (Miss.)41-14 172
 ▼1710 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)42-8 149
 ▼1715 LSU Alexandria (La.)37-18 149
 ▲1920 Central Methodist (Mo.)40-17 140
 ▼208 Missouri Baptist40-14 129
 ▼2114 Evangel (Mo.)44-11 111
 ▲2225 Faulkner (Ala.)37-16 105
 ▼2316 Grand View (Iowa)38-18 89
 ▼2421 Saint Xavier (Ill.)43-14 83
 ▼2519 Texas A&M-Texarkana38-16 79
Dropped from Top 25: Coastal Georgia and Midland (Neb.)
Receiving Votes: Coastal Georgia 58; Midland (Neb.) 51; Dordt (Iowa) 50; Indiana Tech 38; Benedictine (Kan.) 22; Johnson (Tenn.) 16; Georgia Gwinnett 13; Campbellsville (Ky.) 8; Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) 7; St. Thomas (Fla.) 6; Morningside (Iowa) 4; Saint Francis (Ind.) 4; Tennessee Southern 4

Key:
RV – Receiving Votes

NR – Not Ranked

Climbed -▲

Dropped -▼

Steady – ●

Poll Methodology

  • The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
  • A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
  • The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
    • 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
  • The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
  • Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
  • For the Preseason Poll, there is no “previous ranking” column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system. 

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