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D-I Poll: Cougar Country

ATLANTA – With a clean sweep of the Colorado schools last weekend, Brigham Young is the near-unanimous top team in the MCLA Division I New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll, which was released Wednesday.

The Cougars (12-0), who have already wrapped up the top seed in the upcoming RMLC tournament, only have No. 11 Utah Valley (6-4) remaining on the regular season schedule. BYU was awarded 26 of the 27 first-place votes.

Texas (13-0) climbed a spot in the polls this week into the second chair – the highest-ever ranking for a Lone Star Alliance (LSA) program. The Longhorns are the top seed out of the LSA South in the conference tourney.

Virginia Tech (12-2), which was stunned by No. 10 Tennessee (10-1) in the regular-season finale, drops one spot to third. The Hokies did manage to snag the remaining first-place vote. Tech will host Clemson in the first round of the ALC tourney.

Holding steady in the No. 4 slot is Chapman (11-2). After dispatching UCLA, the Panthers will close the season with an SLC slugfest with No. 6 San Diego State (12-1) to determine the top seed in the league playoff.

Fresh off its win over No. 19 James Madison (9-2), Liberty (10-4) rounds out the Top 5. The Flames receive a bye into the semifinals of the ALC tournament.

There were no new additions to the poll this week.

MCLA D-I New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 9

RANK TEAM POINTS 1st VOTES
1. Brigham Young 674 26
2. Texas 643
3. Virginia Tech 617 1
4. Chapman 594
5. Liberty 557
6. San Diego State 514
7. UC Santa Barbara 487
8. Georgia Tech 457
9. Colorado 425
10. Tennessee 410
11. Utah Valley 401
12. South Carolina 377
13. Arizona State 365
14. California 343
15. Florida State 292
16. Northeastern 251
17. Simon Fraser 227
18. Colorado State 207
19. James Madison 190
20. Florida 187
21. Auburn 130
22. Oregon 125
23. Cal Poly 123
25. Arizona 70
25. Indiana 66

Others receiving votes: Clemson (19), Michigan State (10), Boise State (5), Georgia (4), Sonoma State (2), West Virginia (2), Baylor (1).

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D-II Poll: GVSU Expands Lead

ATLANTA – For the second straight week, Grand Valley State is the top team in the MCLA Division II New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll and the Lakers grip on the top spot continues to get tighter.

GVSU (13-0) picked up three more first-place votes this week to build its total to 21, leaving the Lakers well clear of the field. Grand Valley has a bye into the semifinals of the UMLC tournament that takes place this weekend in Rockford, Ill.

Air Force (7-0) remains in the No. 2 slot, gobbling up the remaining six top ballots. The Falcons conclude their regular season with a pair of conference home games.

Rhode Island (9-1) sits tight at No. 3 after dispatching No. 18 Bridgewater State (9-2) in a CLC throwdown. St. Thomas (12-2), which was tied for third with the Rams last week, dips to No. 4.

Montana State (13-1) rounds out the Top 5. The Bobcats have a big matchup Saturday with No. 16 Denver (7-1) in a neutral site game at Sheridan, Wyo.

Appalachian State dipped out of the poll this week to make way for the reemergence of No. 24 Loyola Marymount (10-2).

MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 9

RANK TEAM POINTS 1st VOTES
1. Grand Valley State 669 21
2. Air Force 652 6
3. Rhode Island 596
4. St. Thomas 592
5. Montana State 591
6. Kennesaw State 510
7. Florida Atlantic 500
8. Coastal Carolina 487
9. Cal State San Marcos 478
10. Northwest Nazarene 423
11. UNC-Charlotte 386
12. Wake Forest 367
13. UC San Diego 365
14. North Dakota State 339
15. Dayton 267
16. Denver 248
17. Utah State 228
18. Bridgewater State 181
19t. College of Idaho 165
19t. Missouri State 165
21. Montana 137
22. Northern Arizona 124
23. Minn.-Duluth 117
24. Loyola Marymount 56
25. Western Washington 47

Others receiving votes: Appalachian State (24), Florida Gulf Coast (23), UNC-Wilmington (21), Miami (6), Tampa (6), William & Mary (2), Georgia Southern (1), Tulane (1), UC Davis (1), UC Santa Cruz (1).2