D-II Poll: Time for the Lake Show
ATLANTA – In the wake of a pivotal three-game sweep of ranked teams in Ohio, Grand Valley State has vaulted into the top spot of the MCLA Division II New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll for the first time this spring.
The Lakers (9-0) posted victories over No. 3t St. Thomas (10-2), No. 3t Rhode Island (8-1) and No. 15 Dayton (2-6) to move up three spots on the week. GVSU was bolstered by 18 of the 27 first-place votes this session.
Grand Valley ended Air Force’s (7-0) six-week reign as top dog. The Falcons dropped one spot to the second chair, aided by the remaining nine first-place ballots.
After Rhode Island and St. Thomas, Montana State (11-1) drops a spot to No. 5 despite posting a ranked win over the weekend.
Appalachian State (5-2) enters the poll at No. 25 for the first time this season, bumping Loyola Marymount (10-2).
MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 8
RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1st VOTES |
1. | Grand Valley State | 660 | 18 |
2. | Air Force | 653 | 9 |
3t. | Rhode Island | 596 | |
3t. | St. Thomas | 596 | |
5. | Montana State | 595 | |
6. | Kennesaw State | 514 | |
7t. | Florida Atlantic | 485 | |
7t. | UNC-Charlotte | 485 | |
9. | Coastal Carolina | 482 | |
10. | Cal State San Marcos | 445 | |
11. | Northwest Nazarene | 391 | |
12. | Wake Forest | 379 | |
13. | UC San Diego | 344 | |
14. | North Dakota State | 318 | |
15. | Dayton | 285 | |
16. | Denver | 257 | |
17. | Utah State | 220 | |
18. | Bridgewater State | 191 | |
19. | College of Idaho | 156 | |
20. | Montana | 147 | |
21. | Northern Arizona | 120 | |
22. | Minn.-Duluth | 114 | |
23. | Missouri State | 112 | |
24. | Western Washington | 77 | |
25. | Appalachian State | 59 |
Others receiving votes: Loyola Marymount (47), Florida Gulf Coast (29), Tampa (7), Miami (3), Saint Mary’s (2), UNC-Wilmington (2), William & Mary (2), UC Davis (1), Tulane (1).