CHARLOTTE - Despite receiving votes, Northwest softball was surprisingly unranked in January's NJCAA Division II Preseason Rankings.

That all changed on Monday afternoon, as the Rangers rose to No. 7 in the polls, joining a slew of other MACCC and NJCAA Region 23 programs.

Northwest has started off the season with an 8-2 overall mark, which includes a 5-1 record against nationally-ranked opponents. The Rangers swept No. 16 South Suburban College and No. 9 Kirkwood, before most recently finishing with a split against 13th-ranked Spoon River College on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Chelsea Bramlett's squad became a mainstay in the NJCAA rankings two seasons ago and has mostly remained in the rankings ever since. The Rangers join Pearl River (#3), defending national champions Copiah-Lincoln (#4), Jones College (#6), Northeast (#8) and LSU-Eunice (#9) in the latest Top 10.

Kirkwood dropped one slot to No. 10 overall, while South Suburban and Spoon River tumbled from the polls entirely, Parkland is the new No. 1 ranked team, followed by Louisburg (N.C.) at No. 2 and Murray State College (Okla.) at No. 5.

Northwest will put its national ranking to the test this weekend, as the Rangers visit Booneville to face No. 11 Des Moines Area and Jefferson College in the Carnell Challenge.