SIOUX FALLS - For the first time in program history, the University of Sioux Falls volleyball team, directed by Head Coach Joel McCartney, earned recognition as a Top 25 team in NCAA Division II, moving up to No. 24 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Coaches Poll Week 2 Poll released on Monday.
The Cougars received national recognition after a 4-0 weekend at the Pioneer Invitational in Denton, Tex. The Cougars have won their first eight matches of the season, a program best. To start the winning streak, the Cougars won 22 straight sets, also a program best, and have won 24 of their 25 sets played this season. Leading the Cougars in the Pioneer Invitational were the trio of Junior Krista Goerger, redshirt sophomore Kenzie Byers, and senior Abby Feyereisen, all of whom were named to the All-Tournament Team. Feyereisen was also named co-MVP of the Pioneer Invitational.
Georger finished the tournament with 106 assists (8.15 assists/set), 32 digs (2.46 digs/set). Byers compiled a .223 hitting percentage (26K-12E-61TA). Feyereisen garnered co-MVP honors after hitting at an impressive .474 percentage (41K-10E-78TA).
Thoughts from Coach McCartney on recent success and sustaining it:
"It's always an honor to be recognized as one of the nation's top programs, but ultimately, what matters at the end of the year for us is not as much votes, as a resume that will get us into the national tournament," McCartney said. "And so, that is what we will continue to point to as a program, but we are certainly happy to be recognized in that way. We are going to need to get healthy to be able to defend that ranking."
| Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Total Points Adjusted |
Record
|
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Cal State San Bernardino (35) |
1137 |
7-0 |
2 |
| 2 |
Western Washington (6) |
1092 |
8-0 |
3 |
| 3 |
Washburn (3) |
1062 |
8-0 |
4 |
| 4 |
Minnesota Duluth (1) |
955 |
7-1 |
5 |
| 5 |
Lewis |
891 |
7-1 |
5 |
| T-6 |
Concordia-St. Paul |
870 |
6-2 |
10 |
| T-6 |
Nebraska-Kearney |
870 |
8-0 |
8 |
| 8 |
Northern State |
780 |
7-1 |
7 |
| 9 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
744 |
6-2 |
15 |
| 10 |
Ferris State |
640 |
6-2 |
11 |
| 11 |
Tarleton State |
614 |
5-3 |
9 |
| 12 |
Central Missouri |
538 |
5-3 |
12 |
| 13 |
Tampa |
507 |
4-4 |
1 |
| 14 |
Hillsdale |
491 |
7-1 |
19 |
| 15 |
NW Missouri State |
409 |
7-1 |
18 |
| 16 |
Barry |
379 |
5-3 |
13 |
| 17 |
Rockhurst |
361 |
5-3 |
17 |
| 18 |
Regis |
301 |
6-2 |
NR |
| 19 |
St. Cloud State |
292 |
8-0 |
NR |
| 20 |
Wayne State (Neb.) |
265 |
8-0 |
22 |
| 21 |
Texas A&M Commerce |
222 |
5-3 |
20 |
| 22 |
Wheeling |
210 |
5-3 |
14 |
| 23 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
180 |
5-3 |
16 |
| 24 |
Sioux Falls |
165 |
8-0 |
NR |
| T-25 |
Upper Iowa |
142 |
8-0 |
NR |
| T-25 |
Wingate |
142 |
7-0 |
24 |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Colorado School of Mines 111; Winona State 76; Michigan Tech 75; West Florida 71; Central Washington 62; Cal State L. A. 53; Angelo State 39; Central Oklahoma 37; Chaminade 29; Metro State 24; Azusa Pacific 19; Cal Poly Pomona 17; Missouri-St Louis 15; Ashland 13; Augustana (SD) 4; Saint Leo 4; Indianapolis 3;
8 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 34 combined points.
