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The gap is slowing closing between the top three and the rest of the Division II teams in the national rankings.
Concordia-Irvine finished one point ahead of UC San Diego to remain at No. 3 in the latest Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Division II National Coaches Poll that was released Tuesday.
Concordia-Irvine, Cal Baptist and Lewis have held the top-three rankings in every national coaches poll released this season. In addition, Lewis for the third time in the six weekly polls so far this year was the unanimous No. 1 ranked team.
Within the last four weeks, UC San Diego moved from receiving votes in the poll to finishing just outside the top three and holding the No. 4 ranking for the second straight week. The Tritions have won five of their last seven matches, including the team earning conference wins against USC and CSUN.
Along with the top-four teams in the coaches poll not changing this week, McKendree remained at No. 5.
This is the first season of the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Division II National Coaches Poll, and it is the only national rankings in college men’s volleyball solely for Division II teams.
Both NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II men’s volleyball programs compete for the same national championship. The AVCA National Coaches Poll ranks the top 15 Division I-II men’s volleyball teams and is released each Monday during the regular season.
A national voting committee comprised of coaches from the more than 20 Division II teams determines the weekly rankings for the Division II National Coaches Poll.
Off the Block is a website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage. Springbak, Inc. is the official sponsor of the Division II National Coaches Poll and produces high performance footwear used by professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and U.S. Olympic teams and the top college teams in the nation.
The Division II National Coaches Poll will be released on the Off the Block website every Tuesday during the regular season.
OFF THE BLOCK/SPRINGBAK, INC. DIVISION II NATIONAL COACHES POLL (Week 6)
1. Lewis — 50 (10) points
2. Cal Baptist — 33 points
3. Concordia-Irvine — 26 points
4. UC San Diego — 25 points
5. McKendree — 12 points
Others receiving votes: Mount Olive 3; Barton 1