Poll Power Surge: Cumberlands, Providence & OKWU Make History

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Only four teams remain at the same rank as the previous poll, with Eastern Oregon leading the charge in this week’s edition of the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. 

Cumberlands (Ky.), Providence (Mont.) and Oklahoma Wesleyan are ranked higher than ever before. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) matched its highest rank at No. 13. The last time the team was ranked that high was in 2007, while Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) lands at its highest rank since 2011, when the team was ranked at No. 7. 

	1. Eastern OregonMatch-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 1 College of Idaho, Oct. 4 Warner Pacific (Ore.), Oct. 10 Northwest (Wash.), Oct. 11 Evergreen (Wash.)Notes: Received all 19 of 19 first-place votes. Is one of two teams undefeated in the Top 25. Has lost only six sets of 54 total sets played. Kiauna Mack highlights the Mounties roster as she sits at No. 2 in the nation in blocks per set (1.83).
	2. Concordia (Neb.)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 3 Morningside (Iowa), Oct. 4 Briar Cliff (Iowa), Oct. 10 Northwestern (Iowa), Oct. 11 Waldorf (Iowa)Notes: Was featured as the No. 3 play on SportsCenter during the last rantings period. Is on a six-match win streak.
	3. Providence (Mont.)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 3 Montana Tech, Oct. 4 Montana Western, Oct. 8 Montana State – Northern, Oct. 10 Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Oct. 11 Carroll (Mont.)Notes: The Argonauts hit new heights by being voted as the No. 3 team in the nation. UP sits at No. 2 in the nation in blocks per set (3.04).
	4. Corban (Ore.)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 3 Walla Walla (Wash.), Oct. 4 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), Oct. 8 Bushnell (Ore.), Oct. 11 Warner Pacific (Ore.)Notes: Is currently undefeated on their home court and at neutral sites, combining for 9-0. Makayla Roginski leads the attack for the Warriors with 3.61 kills per set, while this week’s NAIA Defender of the Week, Gracie Boeder, leads the defensive effort at the net with 1.12 blocks per set. Addison Mills follows just behind Boeder with 1.11 blocks per set.
	5. Oklahoma WesleyanMatch-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 1 Southwestern (Kan.), Oct. 4 Tabor (Kan.), Oct. 11 McPherson (Kan.)Notes: Is on a seven-match win streak and is currently 2-0 in the KCAC as the Eagles are ranked at No. 5 for the first time. Evelyn Rohrberg and Sydney Collins highlight the Eagles roster as they also lead the nation in kills per set (5.67) and assists per set (12.59), respectively. The duo has helped put OKWU at No. 1 in the nation in assists per set (13.96).
	6. Indiana WesleyanMatch-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 1 Goshen (Ind.), Oct. 3 St. Francis (Ill.), Oct. 8 Grace (Ind.), Oct. 11 Spring Arbor (Mich.)Notes: Is on a nine-match win streak after their last loss to Viterbo (Wis.) on Aug. 30. Abigail Porter has been a standout player for the Wildcats as she sits at No. 2 in the nation in assists per set at 11.25.
	7. Northwestern (Iowa)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 3 Hastings (Neb.), Oct. 4 Doane (Neb.), Oct. 10 Concordia (Neb.), Oct. 11 Midland (Neb.) Notes: Is currently undefeated in the GPAC with a 6-0 record and will face off against Concordia (Neb.) prior to the next rating to determine who sits at No. 1 in the standings for the GPAC. Zavyr Metzger leads the nation in blocks per set at 1.97 and aided her team to No. 3 in the nation in blocks per set (2.96)
	8. Bellevue (Neb.)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 2 Valley City State (N.D.), Oct. 3 Mayville State (N.D.), Oct. 8 Dakota State (S.D.), Oct. 10 Dickinson State (S.D.), Oct. 11 Bismark State (N.D.)Notes: Is currently 6-0 on their home court. The Bruins are led by Kealy Kiviniemi & Eve Fountain, who are averaging 3.3 and 3.04 kills per set.
	9. McPherson (Kan.)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 1 Bethany (Kan.), Oct. 4 Ottawa (Kan.), Oct. 11 Oklahoma WesleyanNotes: Has not lost a match since they played Northwestern (Iowa) on Aug. 23, producing a 17-match win streak.
	10. Cumberlands (Ky.)Match-ups prior to next poll: Oct. 4 Cumberland (Tenn.), Oct. 10 Bethel (Tenn.), Oct. 11 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Oct. 14 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)Notes: Lands at No. 10 for the first time in school history. Remains undefeated on the season and ranks No. 1 in the nation in attack percentage (.307) and No. 2 in the nation in assists per set (13.35).

Dropped from the Top 25: Southern Oregon, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Spring Arbor (Mich.), Montana Tech 

Receiving Votes: Montana Tech 55, Walla Walla (Wash.) 53, Bushnell (Ore.) 51, Cornerstone (Mich.) 48, Aquinas (Mich.) 45, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 42, Huntington (Ind.) 30, Mobile (Ala.) 24, Dakota State (S.D.) 15, Spring Arbor (Mich.) 11, Southern Oregon 9, Cumberland (Tenn.) 7, Bethel (Kan.) 5, Texas Wesleyan 3, OUAZ (Ariz.) 2

Poll Methodology

• The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
• A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
• The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
  • 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
• The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
• Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
• For the Preseason Poll, there is no “previous ranking” column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system.