KANSAS CITY, MO. (Nov. 6, 2024) – The Saints softball team from Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) – the defending national champions, steps to the plate and opens the 2025 NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Rating in first place, garnering 15 first-place votes.

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO), which placed third in the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series, ranks second, earning a pair of first-place votes. The University of the Cumberlands opens the year in third place, while Southern Oregon University received the final two first-place votes to sit in fourth, followed by Oregon Tech University, which rounds out the top five.

The Saints' seven-game undefeated postseason run, a historic achievement, culminated in OLLU's first-ever National Championship, a moment of pride and inspiration for the entire OLLU community.

Game one was in the San Antonio Regional against Cottey University. The Saints tallied four runs in the first inning and the first of six-postseason shutouts for a 4-0 victory.

Game two was another regional game, a rematch from 2023 against Hope International University. The Saints, with only one hit, showcased their resilience and determination, scoring the only run they needed on a sacrifice bunt and heads-up running to down Hope 1-0.

The third game, the regional championship, was again versus Hope. The Saints were one win away from their second trip to the NAIA World Series for the second year in a row. The Saints prevailed to win 2-0 to win the regional championship title.

Game four was the 2024 World Series opener against Madonna University, which the Saints won 3-0. The fifth game was against the 2023 national runner-up, Oregon Tech University. The Saints marked a 3-0 shutout win, and they were headed to the semifinals.

Game six was against USAO. After falling behind, the Saints staged a remarkable comeback, with Alyssa Flores hitting the biggest homerun in OLLU history in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending the Saints to the National Championship game.

On May 29, OLLU faced Jessup University in its first-ever national championship game. The Saints defeated Jessup 2-0 to bring the first Red Banner to OLLU.

This season, the Saints return All-Conference pitcher and outfielder Ava Hernandez, game-six hero Allysa Flores, 2022/2023 standout Caitlin Terrazas, and starters Kristee Salas, Alyssa Garcia, and Grace Ross. The team features seven returners and 10 newcomers. NAIA Coach of the Year Bruce Lenington returns for his season, while Assistant Coach Jody Armigo returns also for his sixth year. 2024 NAIA National Pitcher of the Year Cassandra Valdez joins the squad as a graduate assistant.

Rating Methodology:

• A panel of head coaches representing each conference/Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) rates the teams.
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each rater rates the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place, 28 for third place, and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ratings for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) are removed. The team's rating will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the team appears on.
• Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered "receiving votes."

Receiving Votes: Saint Xavier (Ill.) 78, Evangel (Mo.) 77, Houston-Victoria (Texas) 54, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 52, Missouri Baptist 46, Tennessee Wesleyan 42, Reinhardt (Ga.) 37, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 37, Grand View (Iowa) 31, Rio Grande (Ohio) 30, Stillman (Ala.) 15, Mid-America Christian (Kan.) 14, Bellevue (Neb.) 10, Shawnee State (Ohio) 5, Campbellsville (Ky.) 5, Johnson (Tenn.) 3, St. Francis (Ill.) 3