ATLANTA – After taking down former No. 1 St. Thomas over the weekend, Montana has moved into the top spot in Week 2 of the New Balance MCLA Division II Weekly Coaches Poll, which was released on March 1.

The Grizzlies (5-0) handed the Tommies (2-1) their first loss of the season, 10-8, in a contest played in Minot, N.D. Montana was awarded 20 of the 27 first-place votes this week and is 19 points clear of the field.

Rhode Island (4-1) sticks in the second chair after an idle week. The Rams snagged five first-place ballots.

St. Thomas dips down to No. 3, but did manage to hang on to a pair of top votes despite the setback to Montana.

Who should be No. 1 in D-II in tomorrow's @NewBalanceLax Weekly Coaches Poll? #mcla23
— 2023 MCLA National Tourney (@MCLA_Tournament) March 1, 2023

Grand Valley State (0-0) remains comfortably in fourth position as the Lakers await the season opener in nine days.

Kennesaw State (4-1) jumps into the No. 5 spot this week on the strength of two Division I road victories.

Bridgewater State (0-2) drops out of the poll to make room for No. 25 Western Washington (3-2).

All Division II eyes will be on Springfield, Mo., this weekend as No. 7 Missouri State (0-0) hosts No. 12 North Dakota State (1-1), No. 16 Dayton (0-0) and No. 17 Florida Atlantic (3-1) from March 3-5.

New Balance Division II Coaches Poll – Week 2

Receiving votes: Bridgewater State (38), Northern Arizona (37), San Diego (33), Georgia Southern (32), Utah Tech (15), Baylor (9), MSU Denver (6), Loyola Marymount (5), Washington-Mo. (4), North Florida (4), Chico State (1).