Wingate, Catawba Hold Top Two Spots In Volleyball Southeast Region Rankings

October 30, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Wingate University volleyball team remains the Southeast Region's number one team, as NCAA officials released the second poll of the season Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs are 24-1 overall and 13-0 in the South Atlantic Conference, currently riding a 22-match winning streak. Wingate is also receiving votes in this week's AVCA top 25 coaches' poll.

The South Atlantic Conference holds six of the top 10 spots, with the Catawba Indians moving up to second in the region. The Catawba Indians of Catawba College are second in the region, switching places with Armstrong Atlantic State University. The AASU Pirates are third in this week's listing.

The Bearcats of Lander University check in at fourth in the region, followed by Francis Marion University, Tusculum College, Pfeiffer University and Carson-Newman College rounding out the top eight. Newberry College is ninth in this week's poll with Lincoln Memorial University rounding out the top 10. Wingate is 8-1 against the other nine ranked teams in the region.

The Bulldogs have earned a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament three consecutive seasons and four of the last five years overall. Wingate has won the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament back-to-back years, while not dropping a set in six tourney matches. The Bulldogs have won 32 consecutive matches over SAC opponents; Wingate is 56-3 overall from the beginning of the 2007 season to the present.

The Bulldogs play one final home game against Lenoir-Rhyne University on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Wingate wraps up its regular season with a road trip to Tennessee to face a pair of regionally-ranked opponents next weekend. The Bulldogs visit Carson-Newman on Friday, Nov. 7, followed by a match at Lincoln Memorial Saturday afternoon (Nov. 8).

NCAA Division II Southeast Region volleyball poll

1. Wingate
2. Catawba
3. Armstrong Atlantic State
4. Lander
5. Francis Marion
6. Tusculum
7. Pfeiffer
8. Carson-Newman
9. Newberry
10. Lincoln Memorial