INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following a week that saw the Trojans knock off previously unbeaten and now 25th-ranked Wingate, the Anderson University volleyball team remained steady at No. 4 in the most recent NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings, as released Wednesday afternoon.
Wingate (24-1), which moved up to No. 25 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Poll despite its loss to the Trojans, remained in the top spot in the NCAA Poll. The Bulldogs are in first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings, one game ahead of AU in the chase for the regular season title.
Augusta (21-5), which is second in the seven-team Peach Belt Conference standings, flipped spots with USC Aiken and climbed one spot into second place in the NCAA rankings, as well. USC Aiken, which is atop the Peach Belt and holds a 19-3 overall record, slipped to third place in the NCAA Poll and will play host to the Lady Jaguars Friday night.
The Trojans are 25-3 overall and have won nine of their last 10 outings, including the win over top-ranked Wingate. The Trojans and Bulldogs have traded victories over each other this season, with each team winning in four sets on their own home court. The Lady Jags are one of just three teams to defeat AU this season, but also dropped an early-season decision to No. 1 Wingate.
Georgia College (14-9) captured three wins last week and jumped three slots to No. 5, while Lincoln Memorial (17-7) also posted three victories and remained sixth in the rankings. Lander (20-6) stayed in the seventh spot, while Carson-Newman moved up two spots into eighth place.
Lenoir-Rhyne (17-9) plummeted four spots into ninth place after dropping a pair of matches, with Mars Hill holding on to the 10th position with a 16-11 overall record.
Eight teams from each of the eight regions will advance to the NCAA Division II tournament. In the Southeast Region, the tournament champions from the South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt, and Conference Carolinas will receive an automatic bid, with five more at-large selections.
The three regional rankings are scheduled to be released weekly on Wednesdays through November 7, with the NCAA D-II Tournament selections scheduled to be unveiled on Sunday night, Nov. 11, at 10 p.m.
The Trojans will close out their regular-season slate with a two-match road swing beginning at Catawba, Friday night. First-serve versus the Indians in Salisbury, N.C. is set for 7 p.m.
Overall Record
1. Wingate 24-1
2. Augusta 21-5
3. USC Aiken 19-3
4. Anderson 25-3
5. Georgia College 14-9
6. Lincoln Memorial 17-7
7. Lander 20-6
8. Carson-Newman 13-12
9. Lenoir-Rhyne 17-9
10. Mars Hill 16-11