The Angelo State softball team is ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division II, according to preseason Top 25 announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released Wednesday.

The Rambelles closed out the 2009 season with a 50-10 record and won the South Central Regional championship for the third time in six season to advance to the NCAA D-II National Championship. ASU would go 2-2 at the national event in Salem, Va., returning home with a tied for third place.

Angelo State returns nine players from last year's squad, including third team All-America junior second baseman Alix Dean and senior right-hander Chelsea Nelson, an all-region pick and the Lone Star Conference South Division Newcomer of the Year last spring. In all, the Rambelles return six of nine position players and both pitchers from last year's squad.

ASU is one of three teams from the LSC in the preseason ranking. The Rambelles are joined by No. 17 Abilene Christian and No. 22 West Texas A&M. Two other teams from the South Central Region appeared in the poll as Missouri Western is No. 8 and Nebraska-Omaha is No. 12, both out of the MIAA.

In addition, the LSC released its preseason poll as well Wednesday with the Rambelles picked to win the South Division. ASU recieved 14 of the 20 first-place votes for 132 points, outdistancing rival Abilene Christian (122).  ACU picked up five first-place votes. WTAMU was third with one first-place vote and 88 points. Midwestern State was tabbed the favorite in North Division.

Nelson was honored as the LSC South's Preseason Pitcher of the Year. She went 31-6 last year for ASU with a 2.47 earned run average and 176 strikeouts, earning second team All-LSC South honors as a junior.

Seventh-year head coach Travis Scott and his Rambelles open the 2010 campaign Feb. 4-6 as they play in a tournament hosted by St. Mary's in San Antonio. The season opener is Thursday, Feb. 4, against Texas A&M International at 2:45 p.m. The Rambelles will then host the 2010 ASU Blue & Gold Classic on Feb. 12-14 at the ASU Softball Complex.