Statesmen Leap to #2 After Sweep of GVU
Oskaloosa–A sweep over the #1 team who were also defending national champions allowed the William Penn men’s volleyball team to hit new heights as the NAIA released its second top-15 poll Wednesday.
William Penn (10-2, 9-1 Heart), which took down previous #1 Grand View 3-0 back on February 8, moved up three positions to #2, its highest ranking in program history. This coming after being ranked for the first time ever in the last poll. The navy and gold are not only second, but also own three first-place votes (183 points total).
Of note, Tuesday’s loss at Grand View came after the national ballots were submitted. Of their 10 wins, the Statesmen have defeated six teams currently ranked or receiving votes.
WPU is joined by five other teams from the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Grand View is now #4, while Missouri Baptist is #6, Park is #9, and Missouri Valley is #13. Mount Mercy is unofficially 20th as well.
Vanguard (Calif.) is the new #1 in the NAIA with 189 points and eight first-place votes, while Menlo (Calif.) is third and Indiana Tech is fifth.
William Penn travels to Davenport Thursday to face St. Ambrose in non-conference play at 7 p.m.
NAIA Men’s Volleyball Rating #3 – February 23, 2022
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Vanguard (Calif.) (8)
2. William Penn (3)
3. Menlo (Calif.)
4. Grand View
5. Indiana Tech
6. Missouri Baptist
6. Jamestown (N.D.)
6. Ottawa (Ariz.)
9. Park (Mo.)
10. Lourdes (Ohio)
11. Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.)
12. The Master’s (Calif.)
13. Missouri Valley
14. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
15. Georgetown (Ky.)
Receiving Votes: Siena Heights (Mich.) 39, UC Merced (Calif.) 38, Campbellsville (Ky.) 30, Judson (Ill.) 28, Mount Mercy 20, Goshen (Ind.) 10, Hope International (Calif.) 8, Webber International (Fla.) 7, Aquinas (Mich.) 4.
