Follow
Jonathan Bates | Off the Block associate editor
Lindenwood, fresh off an impressive four-game victory over Lincoln Memorial, jumped two spots in the latest Division II coaches poll released on Tuesday, from being tied for No. 7 last week to being tied at No. 5 this week.
The Lions outhit the Railspiitters, .355 to .233, and out-blocked them 11.0 to 5.5. Lindenwood outside attackers Diego Negron and Jeremy Kitch both tallied double-digit kills while attacking north of .400.
The top four teams remain the same from last week, and were all in action in Southern California last weekend. No. 1 Lewis, who received all of the first-place votes, defeated No. 4 UC San Diego as well as UC Irvine.
No. 2 McKendree and No. 3 Concordia-Irvine both went 1-2 against Big West competition at the UCSB Invitational, with both teams winning in five games over CSUN. Both teams also had players earn weekly national position awards yesterday.
No. 4 UC San Diego pulled off the biggest surprise amongst Division II schools last weekend with a five-game victory over Loyola. Triton outside attacker Kyle McCauley was named the Big West Player of the Week on the strength of his 20 kill performance versus Loyola.
Barton and King, the two preseason favorites in ConfCarolinas, round out the poll. Lincoln Memorial, Mount Olive, Charleston, and Belmont Abbey also received votes.
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.
The Division II National Coaches Poll will be released on the Off the Block website every Tuesday during the regular season.
Off the Block Division II Coaches Poll (Week 2)
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Last Week | Trend |
| 1 | Lewis | 3-1 | 98 (14) | 1 | — |
| 2 | McKendree | 1-2 | 79 | 2 | — |
| 3 | Concordia-Irvine | 2-2 | 64 | 3 | — |
| 4 | UC San Diego | 1-1 | 55 | 4 | — |
| T-5 | Lindenwood | 1-1 | 23 | T-7 | +2 |
| T-5. | Barton | 0-0 | 23 | 5 | — |
| 7 | King | 2-2 | 18 | 6 | -1 |
Others receiving votes: Lincoln Memorial 14, Mount Olive 12, Charleston 5, Belmont Abbey 1
Dropped out: Charleston