Winfield, Kan. -The Southwestern Women's Cross Country team opens 2011 by receiving votes in the 2011 NAIA Women's Cross Country Preseason Top 25 Poll released Tuesday afternoon by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic national office.

The Lady Builders lost the decorated Amy Pierson from last year's team but will look to a strong class of incoming runners and the off-season improvement of returning athletes to help pace the team this season.

Two-time defending NAIA champion, Cal State San Marcos notches the top spot in the poll with 16 first place votes and 497 total points. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) rests in second with 481 points, while Biola (Calif.) (459 pts.), Southern Oregon (458 pts.) and the College of Idaho (426 pts.) round out the top five.

Friends University is the lone KCAC school to break the top 25, as the Lady Falcons rank 13^thwith 293 points.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups. The first regular-season Top 25 poll will be announced on Sept. 14.