2nd-Ranked Softball Team No. 1 at CSUN

The Cal State Northridge softball team has achieved the highest NCAA Division I ranking of any team in school history.

The Matadors (26-3-1) are ranked second behind UCLA after going 7-0 while winning the prestigious Cal State Fullerton PONY tournament last weekend.

The Northridge men’s volleyball team has been ranked third several times, including twice this season.

Northridge’s softball team has only one loss in its last 20 games. In the PONY tournament, the Matadors defeated Oklahoma State, Nevada Las Vegas and Arizona--all previously ranked in the top five.

“I don’t think it’s subjective,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said of the ranking. “We beat the people we had to beat. Based on the way we’re playing right now, we deserve to be there.”

The Matadors have the best record in the program’s history--better than the school’s four NCAA Division II championship teams.

“We set a goal to be up in the top five at this time and they’ve done it,” said Torgeson, whose team will play host to San Diego State in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

“But it’s one thing to set goals and another thing to reach them. It’s good to be where we are. Now we’ll have to get out there and defend our spot.”