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McKendree days after its biggest victory of the season is climbing in the national coaches poll.
The Bearcats broke last week’s three-way tie for No. 5 and moved up one spot to No. 4 in the latest Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Division II National Coaches Poll that was released Tuesday.
McKendree won two conference matches last week, including a four-game upset victory against Ball State on Thursday. In addition, opposite Maalik Walker in the two victories had a combined 27 kills and six aces to help the Bearcats remain in sixth place in the MIVA.
The top three teams in the Division II coaches poll remained unchanged this week. Lewis continued to be the unanimous No. 1 team in the poll, while UC San Diego continues to be at No. 2 and one spot ahead of Concordia-Irvine.
Cal Baptist edged out Barton by seven points to claim the final spot in the top-five poll.
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 12)
1. Lewis — 45 (9) points
2. UC San Diego — 28 points
3. Concordia-Irvine — 25 points
4. McKendree — 20 points
5. Cal Baptist — 11 points
Others receiving votes: Barton 4; King 2