D-II Poll: Dayton Holds On

ATLANTA – Despite being two weeks away from its season opener, defending national champion Dayton was able to hold off a serious competitor and maintain its top ranking in Week One of the MCLA Division II New Balance Coaches Poll.

The Flyers (0-0), which will take on No. 16 Wake Forest (5-1) on March 1 to open the season, collected 14 of the 27 first-place votes to remain in the top spot.

Dayton edged out Air Force (3-0) for the first chair by 10 points. The Falcons, who amassed three ranked wins at the Rocky Mountain Rumble, garnered the remaining 13 first-place votes.

St. Thomas (2-0), ranked second in the New Balance preseason poll, checks in at No. 3, just ahead of No. 4 Montana State (3-0). The Tommies and Bobcats will meet this weekend in Minot, N.D., in a big non-conference showdown.

Rounding out the Top 5 is UNC-Charlotte (4-0), which is off to a sizzling start to the season.

UC Davis (1-1) left the poll from the preseason to make way for No. 24 Miami.

MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 1

Others receiving votes: UC Davis (61), Loyola Marymount (49), Denver (20), San Diego (12), Georgia Southern (10), Appalachian State (9), Arizona Christian (7), Maine (4), Central Washington (3), Drury (1), MSU Denver (1), Saint Mary’s (1), Claremont (1), Bridgewater State (1), Tulane (1).