LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The NFCA released the 2025 DII Softball Preseason Poll on Tuesday, with Northwest Nazarene slotted 18th to begin the season.

The Nighthawks were 21st in the final 2024 poll, moving up three spots in this years' preseason ranking. Defending champion UT Tyler topped the poll, followed by GNAC rival Western Washington in second after their runner-up finish at the national championships last year. Other West Region programs in the top 25 are Cal State Dominguez Hills at 15th and Cal State San Marcos at 23rd. 

The Nighthawks are coming off the best season in program history, setting a new program record for wins in a season, going 41-12 overall and 20-4 in conference play. The Nighthawks won their fourth-straight GNAC Regular Season Championship and qualified for NCAA Regionals for the fourth year in a row. NNU hosted the West Regional for the first time in program history as the two-seed and went 2-2 at the regional pod. The Nighthawks were ranked in the NFCA Top 25 all season, rising as high as 13th nationally on April 30.

As is customary over the past number of years, NNU will open the season at the Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine, California from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.