Schedule Wasn't Glamorous The Bears, who were seeded eighth in their regional, probably suffered from a schedule that offered few nationally ranked opponents.

The 2006-07 season included a non-conference schedule that featured three nationally ranked opponents as well as Katie Meinhardt's senior campaign.

The team defeated LSU, Georgia, and Tennessee (twice, facing them a second time in the SEC Championship game), all of whom were ranked opponents.

Longwood's softball team has a strong history and has beaten many nationally ranked opponents.

In addition, Houston defeated two nationally ranked opponents, which the Cougars hadn't achieved since their 1984 season.

Oklahoma was ranked 12th in the nation, but UConn had faced higher ranked opponents, and won relatively easily.

And now the new quality-win component encourages teams to play a stronger schedule and gives a significant reward for wins over highly ranked opponents.

So great is the gulf between Evangel and local schools now that Dunn filled this year's schedule with nationally ranked opponents from other states, four already this season.

Over the course of the season, the team lost to both ranked opponents that it faced.

Under Kiefer, USF has faced 29 nationally ranked opponents, registering a 14-11-4 record versus the nation's elite.