The UMSL Tritons won two matches over the weekend and are now 14-0 on the season. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Nora Nichols
Staff Writer
LEXINGTON, KY –- The new AVCA/Taraflex NCAA Division II women’s volleyball Top 25 poll came out Tuesday morning, and it revealed that the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons had moved up one spot to No. 4 in this week’s rankings. That mark is UMSL’s highest ranking in school history, surpassing the previous high of No. 5.
The Tritons are coming off two dominant wins last weekend and are now 14-0 on the season, which is the best start to a season for an UMSL volleyball team in school history. The Tritons’ 14 wins are the most for any team in all of D2 volleyball, and they remain one of just two unbeaten teams in the country. Third-ranked Tampa University is 10-0 this season.
UMSL is one of three Great Lakes Valley Conference teams in the Top 25 this week. Lewis moved up one spot from No. 20 to No. 19 and Rockhurst rose two spots from No. 25 to No. 23. A fourth GLVC team, Quincy University, was listed in the ‘those receiving votes’ category.
Wayne State received 39 of the 47 first-place votes to remain the top ranked team in the country. Concordia-St. Paul got six first-place votes and is second for the second straight week.
Tampa moved up from fourth to third and received a first-place vote and West Texas A&M rounded out the top five receiving the other first-place vote.
The Tritons will be back in action this Saturday at the Mark Twain Building. UMSL will McKendree in a GLVC contest at 3 p.m.
WEEK 5 AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Women’s Volleyball Poll
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes Adjusted) | Total Points Adjusted | Record | Previous Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne State (NE) [39] | 1,142 | 11-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Concordia-St. Paul [6] | 1,129 | 12-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Tampa [1] | 1,073 | 10-0 | 4 |
| 4 | UMSL | 1,008 | 14-0 | 5 |
| 5 | West Texas A&M [1] | 964 | 11-2 | 3 |
| 6 | St. Cloud State | 937 | 11-2 | 6 |
| 7 | MSU Denver | 877 | 9-3 | 8 |
| 8 | Southwest Minnesota State | 769 | 9-2 | 9 |
| 9 | Nebraska-Kearney | 763 | 13-1 | 10 |
| 10 | Minnesota-Duluth | 713 | 10-2 | 7 |
| 11 | Colorado Mesa | 672 | 12-1 | 11 |
| 12 | Cal State-San Bernardino | 645 | 10-2 | 14 |
| 13 | Regis | 506 | 8-3 | 16-T |
| 14 | Cal Poly-Pomona | 495 | 11-1 | 18 |
| 15 | Washburn | 455 | 9-2 | 13 |
| 16 | West Florida | 433 | 8-4 | 16-T |
| 17 | Chaminade | 421 | 13-2 | 12 |
| 18 | Central Washington | 360 | 8-4 | 15 |
| 19 | Lewis | 328 | 10-4 | 20 |
| 20 | Central Oklahoma | 241 | 12-2 | 21 |
| 21 | Ferris State | 232 | 9-3 | 22 |
| 22 | Wingate | 161 | 9-2 | 19 |
| 23 | Rockhurst | 151 | 10-2 | 25 |
| 24 | Seattle Pacific | 118 | 10-2 | NR |
| 25 | Cal State L.A. | 95 | 5-7 | 23 |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Northwest Missouri State 89; Central Missouri 50; Angelo State 49; Walsh 37; Barry 35; Quincy 34; Lynn 30; Hillsdale 19; Winona State 18; Dallas Baptist 17; Sonoma State 16; Anderson (S.C.) 14; Clarion 14; Eckerd 14; Spring Hill 14; Point Loma 13; Western Washington 13; Alaska-Anchorage 11; Biola 11; Simon Fraser University 9; Colorado School of Mines 5; Northern State 4; Bentley 2
9 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 61 combined points
Dropped Out: Northwest Missouri State 24