via the MCLA press release/website

D-II Poll: Air Force Strengthens Lead

ATLANTA – With defending national champion and former No. 2 Dayton getting off to a bumpy start to the season, the Air Force Academy has strengthened its grip on the top spot in the MCLA Division II New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll, which was released Wednesday.

The Falcons (6-0), which defeated Virginia Tech D-II on Monday to stay perfect on the season, picked up 21 of the 27 first-place votes cast this interval to remain atop the charts for the second consecutive week.

After running its record to 7-0 with three more ranked wins over the weekend, St. Thomas moved up a spot to No. 2, bolstered by the remaining six first-place ballots.

An idle Montana State (4-1) outfit moved into the third slot followed by UNC-Charlotte (6-0) in fourth. Grand Valley State (2-0), which is off until St. Patrick’s Day, rounds out the Top 5.

With its 1-2 start to the campaign, Dayton dropped all the way down to No. 12 this session.

St. John’s (0-4) dropped out of the poll to make way for No. 25 Northern Arizona (2-0).

MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 3

RANK TEAM POINTS 1st VOTES
1. Air Force 669 21
2. St. Thomas 653 6
3. Montana State 594
4. UNC-Charlotte 573
5. Grand Valley State 545
6. Rhode Island 532
7. Montana 447
8. Florida Atlantic 435
9. Coastal Carolina 430
10. Kennesaw State 425
11. Cal State San Marcos 414
12. Dayton 407
13. Wake Forest 390
14. UC San Diego 316
15. Northwest Nazarene 278
16. North Dakota State 274
17. Missouri State 236
18. Minn.-Duluth 212
19. Florida Gulf Coast 177
20. Western Washington 166
21. Denver 160
22. Utah State 155
23. Loyola Marymount 70
24. College of Idaho 60
25. Northern Arizona 56

Others receiving votes: UC Davis (32), Appalachian State (25), St. John’s (19), Bridgewater State (10), Georgia Southern (5), Miami (3), Tulane (3), MSU Denver (2), Central Washington (1), Virginia Tech D-II (1).