WPU Up One to #9
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen men’s volleyball team split against a pair of top programs to start the campaign and it helped the squad advance in the rankings as the NAIA released its first top-15 poll Wednesday.
WPU (2-1) gained one spot from its preseason position to #9 with 183 points. The Statesmen have now been ranked for 14 consecutive polls.
William Penn is one of six representatives from the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the ranking. Park heads the grouping at #2, while Grand View is also ahead of WPU at #5. Missouri Baptist, at #12, and Mount Mercy, at #15, are also in the top 15, while Missouri Valley continues to be in the receiving votes section as well at #21 unofficially.
The Master’s (Calif.) is the new #1 with 296 points and 15 first-place votes. Vanguard (Calif.), at #3, and Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.), at #4, rounds out the top five. Benedictine Mesa has the final first-place vote.
The Statesmen travel to Mount Vernon, Ohio Thursday to face Mount Vernon Nazarene in non-conference action at 6 p.m. (CST).
NAIA Men’s Volleyball Rating #1 — February 7, 2024
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. The Master’s (Calif.) (15)
2. Park (Mo.)
3. Vanguard (Calif.) (10)
4. Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) (1)
5. Grand View
6. Ottawa (Ariz.)
7. Jamestown (N.D.)
8. Menlo (Calif.)
9. William Penn
10. Indiana Tech
11. Georgetown (Ky.)
12. Missouri Baptist
13. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
14. Lourdes (Ohio)
15. Mount Mercy
Receiving Votes: Westcliff (Calif.) 80; Arizona Christian 46; Reinhardt (Ga.) 43; Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) 42; Campbellsville (Ky.) 37; Missouri Valley 31; Cornerstone (Mich.) 11; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 5.
