2014 AVCA Week 9 poll: Calvin ascends to #1

Calvin took over the top spot in this week’s AVCA poll.

Calvin, which claimed 38-of-63 first-place votes, defeated previous No. 1 Hope in four sets last week. Calvin has also lost to No. 2 Hope, No. 4 Wittenberg and No. 5 Washington-St. Louis.

Hope retained 20 first-place votes, while Cal Lutheran received two and one apiece went to Wittenberg and Washington-St. Louis.

I’m praying the RAC’s have longer memories than the weekly voters. It’s hard to believe that the stated selection criteria would allow room for the RAC’s to agree with this week’s AVCA voters. You never know, but I’m an optimist. Come in and restore sanity, RAC’s.

Other Central and Midwest region teams in this week’s top 25: No. 8 UW-Stevens Point; No. 9 St. Thomas; No. 14 Nebraska Wesleyan; No. 16 Elmhurst; No. 17 Carthage; No. 19 Millikin; No. 22 Augsburg; No. 23 Saint Benedict; No. 25 UW-Whitewater.

Central and Midwest teams receiving votes this week: UW Oshkosh; Coe; Cornell; Chicago.

My Week 9 top 10

-Ricky Nelson