Statesmen Return to Top Five
Oskaloosa–With a win over the then-#2 team in the country, the William Penn men’s volleyball team picks up two spots as the NAIA released its fourth top-15 poll Wednesday.
WPU (15-3, 8-2 Heart), which defeated Park (#2 at the time), jumped two positions to #5 with 234 points. The navy and gold have now been ranked for 17 consecutive ratings. The #5 ranking matches the program’s highest of the season (February 21).
The Heart of America Athletic Conference continues to have six teams in the complete rating with Grand View now leading the crew at #4. Park has dropped to #8, while Missouri Baptist is #11 and Missouri Valley is next at #12. Mount Mercy is now in the receiving votes section at #16 unofficially.
Undefeated Vanguard (Calif.) remains #1 in the country with 296 points and all 16 first-place votes. The Master’s (Calif.) is again #2, while Ottawa (Ariz.) is #3 to round out the top five.
William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Friday to face Missouri Valley in Heart action at 7 p.m.
NAIA Men’s Volleyball Rating #4 — March 20, 2024
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Vanguard (Calif.) (16)
2. The Master’s (Calif.)
3. Ottawa (Ariz.)
4. Grand View
5. William Penn
6. Menlo (Calif.)
7. Georgetown (Ky.)
8. Park (Mo.)
9. Jamestown (N.D.)
10. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
11. Missouri Baptist
12. Missouri Valley
13. Lourdes (Ohio)
14. Indiana Tech
15. Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.)
Receiving Votes: Mount Mercy 85, Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 68, Reinhardt (Ga.) 45, Cornerstone (Mich.) 31, UC Merced (Calif.) 31, Campbellsville (Ky.) 20, Westcliff (Calif.) 11, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) 7.
