NFCA Release
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Missouri State University ranks second among the nation's NCAA Division I softball programs in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Academic Team rankings for the 2016-17 academic year, the organization announced Tuesday.
 
The Bears boasted an impressive 3.648 team grade-point average to rank No. 2 among the nation's major programs in the organization's annual academic release.

Western Carolina (3.673) was the Division I leader in team GPA honors, followed by Missouri State, Alabama (3.647), Middle Tennessee (3.616), Sacred Heart (3.605), Saint Louis (3.594), Harvard (3.588), Troy (3.585), Western Kentucky (3.569) and Kent State (3.568) to round out the top 10.
 
A total of 143 Division I teams accumulated grade-point averages of 3.00 or higher in 2016-17.

Last year, the Bears ranked 10^th nationally on the NFCA's annual academic honor roll.
 
MSU head coach Holly Hesse will return 12 letterwinners and 14 squad members for her 30^th season at the helm when the Bears open the 2018 season in early February. MSU hosts Central Missouri this Friday (6:30 p.m.) and Avila University on Saturday (1 p.m.) at Killian Softball Stadium in Springfield as it wraps a busy fall exhibition schedule.