2016 AVCA Week 2 poll: SCIAC home to top 2 teams
Defending champion Cal Lutheran solidified its position atop the rankings by garnering 48 of 49 first-place votes in the AVCA Week 2 poll.
The Regals were followed in the poll by fellow unbeaten teams Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in second, Calvin in third and Colorado College in fourth. Someone actually had Juniata, which by all accounts is no longer unbeaten, first on a ballot as the Eagles rounded out the top five.
Central and Midwest region teams in this week’s top 25: No. 10 UW-Stevens Point; No. 12 Bethel; No. 16 UW-Whitewater; No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan; No. 18 UW-La Crosse (divided by 2, maybe); No. 19 Washington-St. Louis (of course); No. 22 Elmhurst; No. 23 UW-Oshkosh; No. 24 Millikin; No. 25 Northwestern.
Central and Midwest teams receiving votes this week: Carthage; Gustavus Adolphus; UW-Eau Claire; Wartburg; Saint Benedict.
[Sigh]
-Ricky Nelson
DIII Women's Volleyball 
Most interesting line from the poll was:
“Five teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 44 combined points.”
Think about that for a second. Five teams mentioned on only one ballot should probably only be getting 5 to 10 points maximum. Not 44!
So, your boy went a look’n and found:
Heidelberg (6-3) #21
Puget Sound (5-3) #25
Randolph-Macon (2-3) #15
SUNY Brockport (8-1) #23
Cairn University (0-3) #2
The Cairn ballot belongs to Dana Moore (St Scholastica), but before you get too mad…I think she meant to have Calvin and just messed up.
The Randolph-Macon selection is just weird. They jumped 4 spots on the one ballot after going 2-2 this weekend.
To quote Ricky, “[Sigh]”.
DIIIFan
September 13, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Lotta “C” schools to click on at the top of the poll. Big fan of Coach Moore over here.
-Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
September 13, 2016 at 3:10 pm
100% honest mistake, I believe! Just shocking to sort the ballots and see Cairn come in with a #2 vote! The evil side of me would have loved for her to put Calvin at #1 and see Cairn end up with that instead.
Now, Randolph-Macon is another matter. I hope they don’t split their games again or they could make the top 10 next week.
DIIIFan
September 13, 2016 at 3:26 pm
I realize WASH U’s played a tough schedule but still, do they really need to be in the top 25 with a .500 record? And someone that’s actually seen them play, are they deserving of inclusion? I read somewhere else that they have alot of younger players so they may not be as strong but if you’re good you’re good and if not then not. Anyways if someone’s them play, love to have your insight.
Anonymous
September 14, 2016 at 11:03 am
I saw them play at Cal Lu and I believe one of their outsides got hurt (not sure how bad), but they definitely were not the same team from last year. I don’t think they will be a top 25 team. Next week will be especially tough for them with three ranked teams and Heidelberg may be a fight too.
I think that Trinity has improved a lot since last year and they will probably make the top 25. I can’t wait til they Colorado College and Southwestern mix it up. There may be some upsets there.
D3 dad
September 14, 2016 at 7:40 pm
Hey D3 dad! Another West Region supporter on the blog. We need to take this over! Well, we really just need to get Ricky a job in the West Region!
Trinity was my pick for the SCAC champion this year. I didn’t know they lost their tall middle from last year at the time, however. Regardless, I think the CC, SU and Trinity games will all be great (again) this year. Starts off tomorrow with SU at Trinity. I will not be surprised with a Trinity victory as I assume the students will be out in force.
DIIIFan
September 15, 2016 at 11:50 am
Sorry a little late but I saw they lost to SW.Like I said though they are definitely back. This weekend should be big with CC, Trinity, and SW all playing each other. It’s a shame they and most teams don’t get out to play other top teams from other regions too often.
D3 dad
September 19, 2016 at 9:08 pm