D-II Poll: Air Force Takes Command
(Photo by Lance Wendt)
ATLANTA – For the first time in program history, Air Force has taken over the top spot in Week Two of the MCLA Division II New Balance Coaches Poll, which was released on Wednesday.
The Falcons (4-0) leapfrogged defending national champion and former No. 1 Dayton (0-0) for pole position. Air Force grabbed 13 of the 25 first-place votes that were cast this week.
The Flyers dropped into the No. 2 spot, bolstered by 10 first-place votes. Dayton will open its season this weekend with a three-day, three-game road set against No. 15 Wake Forest (6-1), No. 19 Coastal Carolina (2-1) and Miami (4-2).
St. Thomas (4-0) retains its third spot from last week, but adds a pair of first-place votes after defeating No. 4 Montana State (4-1) and No. 8 Montana (1-1) in Minot, N.D.
Grand Valley State (2-0), which knocked off a pair of MCLA Division I outfits, migrates up two spots to round out the Top 5.
Miami and Northern Arizona (0-0) were bumped out of the poll to make room for No. 22t Denver (2-0) and No. 24 Loyola Marymount (4-0).
MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 2
RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1st VOTES |
1. | Air Force | 610 | 13 |
2. | Dayton | 606 | 10 |
3. | St. Thomas | 581 | 2 |
4. | Montana State | 541 | |
5. | Grand Valley State | 499 | |
6. | UNC-Charlotte | 483 | |
7. | Rhode Island | 470 | |
8. | Montana | 436 | |
9. | Cal State San Marcos | 418 | |
10. | UC San Diego | 402 | |
11. | Kennesaw State | 367 | |
12. | Florida Atlantic | 348 | |
13. | Missouri State | 303 | |
14. | North Dakota State | 285 | |
15. | Wake Forest | 270 | |
16. | Florida Gulf Coast | 244 | |
17. | Minn.-Duluth | 228 | |
18. | Western Washington | 185 | |
19. | Coastal Carolina | 171 | |
20t. | Northwest Nazarene | 133 | |
20t. | Utah State | 133 | |
22t. | College of Idaho | 96 | |
22t. | Denver | 96 | |
24. | Loyola Marymount | 46 | |
25. | St. John's | 44 |
Others receiving votes: Northern Arizona (43), UC Davis (34), Miami (24), Appalachian State (11), Georgia Southern (7), San Diego (4), Bridgewater State (2), UNC-Wilmington (2), Arizona Christian (1), Drury (1), Saint Mary’s (1).