KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Northwestern volleyball team has been ranked No. 3 in this week’s edition of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll.
Northwestern holds a 7-1 record against the top 25 and 12-1 overall, with its only loss coming to No. 1 Eastern Oregon. The Raiders are third nationally in hitting percentage (.284) and third in the GPAC in assists per set (12.09). Multiple Raiders are near the top of the conference in their respective stat categories, with Stella Winterfeld leading the GPAC in kills per set (4.56) and sitting second in total kills (205). Maddy Sampson is third in the league in hitting percentage (.352) and Nyah Potthoff is third in assists per set (10.33).
Eastern Oregon remained in the top spot, receiving 18 first-place votes behind their 15-0 record. Concordia (Neb.) moved up to No. 2, and Northwestern, College of Idaho, and McPherson (Kan.) rounded out the top five. Seven GPAC teams are represented in the poll, with five in the top 15 and two receiving votes.
Northwestern has been ranked in 71 consecutive NAIA top 25 polls dating back to the 2016 season, which is second in the nation behind Eastern Oregon.
A total of 7 teams from the GPAC are recognized in this wee’s poll.
No. 2 Concordia (Neb.) Bulldogs
No. 3 Northwestern Red Raiders
No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers
No. 14 Morningside Mustangs
No. 15 Midland Warriors
RV College of Saint Mary Flames
RV Dordt Defenders
NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
RANK LAST INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] RECORD
● 1 1 Eastern Oregon [18] 15-0
▲ 2 3 Concordia (Neb.) 11-2
▼ 3 2 Northwestern (Iowa) 12-1
▲ 4 9 College of Idaho 11-0
● 5 5 McPherson (Kan.) 11-2
▼ 6 4 Corban (Ore.) 10-3
▼ 7 6 Indiana Wesleyan 10-4
▼ 8 7 Providence (Mont.) 10-2
▲ 9 T-12 Aquinas (Mich.) 15-1
▼ 10 8 Missouri Baptist 10-2
▲ 11 T-12 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 9-1
▼ 12 11 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 12-2
▲ 13 14 Taylor (Ind.) 15-4
▲ 14 20 Morningside (Iowa) 13-3
▲ 15 16 Midland (Neb.) 10-4
▲ 16 19 Bellevue (Neb.) 8-2
▲ 17 18 Southern Oregon 10-4
▲ 18 24 Viterbo (Wis.) 12-5
▼ 19 15 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) 14-6
▼ 20 17 The Master’s (Calif.) 8-5
▼ 21 10 Cumberlands (Ky.) 13-3
▼ 22 21 St. Thomas (Fla.) 8-5
▲ 23 RV Grace (Ind.) 15-3
▲ 24 RV Montana Tech 10-1
▼ 25 22 IU Kokomo (Ind.) 9-6
Receiving Votes: Bushnell (Ore.), College of Saint Mary (Neb.), Cornerstone (Mich.), Cumberland (Tenn.), Dordt (Iowa), Fisk (Tenn.), Nelson (Texas), Southeastern (Fla.), Spring Arbor (Mich.)
