Wingate Remains Top-Ranked Volleyball Team In Southeast Region
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Wingate University volleyball team remains the Southeast Region's number one team, as NCAA officials released the third poll of the season Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs finished the regular season 27-1 overall and 16-0 in the South Atlantic Conference. They are currently riding a 25-match winning streak. Wingate is also receiving votes in this week's AVCA top 25 coaches' poll.
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 36 consecutive matches over SAC opponents; Wingate is 60-3 overall from the beginning of the 2007 season to the present.
The Bulldogs are one of six SAC schools ranked in the top 10. Armstrong Atlantic State University is second in the region, switching places with the Catawba Indians of Catawba College, who are third this week.
The Eagles of Carson-Newman College check in at fourth in the region, followed by Lander University, Francis Marion University, Pfeiffer University and Tusculum College rounding out the top eight. Lincoln Memorial University is ninth in this week's poll with Newberry College charting at the number 10 position. Wingate is 11-1 overall against the other nine ranked teams in the region this season.
The Bulldogs travel to Mars Hill this week, where they will look to win their third consecutive Food Lion SAC tournament championship. Wingate will take on Brevard College Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the tourney's first round. The winner of the Brevard-Wingate match will take on the winner of the Newberry-Tusculum match Friday at 1 p.m. The championship match is slated for 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
NCAA Division II Southeast Region volleyball poll
1. Wingate
2. Armstrong Atlantic State
3. Catawba
4. Carson-Newman
5. Lander
6. Francis Marion
7. Pfeiffer
8. Tusculum
9. Lincoln Memorial
10. Newberry