FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep. 25, 2006

Lions break into AVCA Division II Top 25

Joplin, MO -- For the first time since the second week of the 1996 season, the Missouri Southern Volleyball program has been ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll, landing at No. 25 this week.

Southern is off to an 18-2 start, the second best start in school history, and is in second place in the MIAA West with a 4-1 mark. The Lions are coming off a 4-0 week that saw them beat Southwest Baptist and Pittsburg State, before sweeping both Harding and Drury.

Each season, every coach sets goals for their particular programs, but Southern coach Chris Willis said this wasn't particularly on their radar screen.

"I think this is a great accolade for the program and this team definitely deserves it," Willis said. "However, to be honest, we really hadn't thought about getting into the national poll. We were more worried about making it into the regional poll.

"That (regional) poll determines whether or not you make it into the post season and that has always been a goal for us. It's great to get this recognition from my fellow coaches, but we all want to be playing beyond our conference tournament."

Southern has a huge week at home starting with a match with Northwest Missouri on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Lions then play host to 19th ranked Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Thursday at 7 p.m. and finish the week with 11th ranked Central Missouri at noon on Saturday.

CSTV/AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll

2006 POLL # 4: September 25, 2006

 

Rank

School (First-Place Votes)

Total Points

2006 Record

Last Week

1

Tampa (34)

897

17-0

1

2

Grand Valley State

847

14-1

2

3

Concordia-St. Paul

831

16-1

3

4

Truman

789

16-1

4

5

Florida Southern

754

16-2

5

6

Minnesota Duluth

703

16-2

6

7

Cal State-San Bernardino

690

13-0

7

8

Washburn

627

16-2

8

9

BYU-Hawai i (1)

619

9-0

9

10

Hillsdale (1)

564

16-0

11

11

Central Missouri

521

16-3

10

12

Chico State

500

12-1

14

13

UC San Diego

464

11-2

13

14

Florida Gulf Coast

404

12-2

16

15

Central Washington

330

14-2

12

T-16

Cal State-L.A.

322

10-2

15

T-16

Nebraska-Omaha

322

11-4

17

18

Seattle Pacific

315

14-2

18

19

SIU-Edwardsville

279

15-2

20

20

North Alabama

241

12-5

19

21

Rockhurst

229

13-1

21

22

Wayne State (Neb.)

110

16-3

25

23

Findlay

80

12-4

23

24

Southwest Minnesota State

57

14-5

24

25

Missouri Southern State

51

18-2

NR

 

Others Receiving Votes and listed on two or more ballots: West Texas A&M 31; Nebraska-Kearney 30; California (Pa.) 16; Wingate 15; Chaminade 13; Lock Haven 12; Minnesota State, Mankato 11; Ferris State 7; Western Washington 2. 

Dropped out: Nebraska-Kearney (22)

 

 

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