Louisville, Ky. - In defending last year's NCAA Division II East Region crown, the Adelphi University softball team is the No. 9 nationally-ranked team in Division II, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Reigning national champion Rogers State led the poll with 400 overall points and 16 first-place votes. 

At the end of last year, the Brown and Gold appeared at No. 10 in the NFCA Top 25 Poll - their highest ranking of the season. 

On top of winning her first NE10 Championship at Adelphi in 2022, Carla Campagna guided the Panthers to their first NCAA Division II National Championship appearance since 2016.

The Panthers will bring back more than a number of notable returners for this season, including reigning NE10 Defensive Player of the Year Angela Lignelli and NFCA All-America pitchers Claire Fon and Lindsey Hibbs. 

Adelphi added four players this offseason -- comprising of two freshmen and two transfers -- who will look to make an impactful role in the hopes of another championship run.

The squad begins their regular season in Florence, S.C. on Feb. 18 in the Patriot Invitational Tournament against No. 15 Kutztown at 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m. against Francis Marion.