MCLA press release/website

D-I Poll: Chapman Gets a Turn

ATLANTA – For the third time in as many weeks, we have new No. 1 in the MCLA Division I New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll and this time it’s Chapman that receives top billing.

Thanks to the two previous top-ranked teams each losing in the span of four days last week, the Panthers (6-0) vault into big chair by poaching 18 of the 27 first-place votes cast.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, as three of Chapman’s next four games come against Top 10 outfits, starting with a home affair against No. 5 Utah Valley (5-0) on Thursday.

Brigham Young (4-0) jumps two spots in the poll, settling in at No. 2. The Cougars will get to prove their mettle this week in Jacksonville, Fla., with contests against No. 7 Liberty (6-2) and No. 14 Florida (4-3). BYU accumulated four first-place tallies.

Texas (9-0) is the big mover this week, jumping six spots all the way up to No. 3 – the Longhorns highest-ever ranking. Texas makes the leap after a 3-0 weekend in Berkeley that included a win over former No. 1 and current No. 8 Georgia Tech (8-2). The ‘Horns were awarded four first-place votes, as well.

Virginia Tech (8-1), which slipped out of the top spot last week, checks in at No. 4 after an idle interval. The Hokies will resume play with a bang, hosting Chapman and Utah Valley in a three-day span starting on March 21.

Georgia (3-5) left the Top 25 this week to make way for Indiana (6-0). The Hoosiers enter the poll for the first time in a decade.

MCLA D-I New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 4

RANK TEAM POINTS 1st VOTES
1. Chapman 665 18
2. Brigham Young 625 4
3. Texas 601 4
4. Virginia Tech 593 1
5. Utah Valley 574
6. San Diego State 537
7. Liberty 488
8. Georgia Tech 483
9. South Carolina 450
10. California 422
11. UC Santa Barbara 394
12. Colorado 378
13. Tennessee 346
14. Florida 321
15. Florida State 305
16. James Madison 264
17. Oregon 227
18. Arizona State 192
19. Auburn 189
20. Simon Fraser 175
21. Northeastern 124
22. Arizona 90
23. Cal Poly 72
24. Colorado State 41
25. Indiana 38

Others receiving votes: Georgia (36), Boise State (30), Clemson (30), Utah (23), Southern Methodist (21), Michigan State (13), Sonoma State (11), Baylor (7), New Hampshire (4), West Virginia (4), Boston College (2).