AVCA 2012 Week 5 poll: WUSTL unanimous, Elmhurst in top 10

Washington-St. Louis is now the unanimous No. 1 team in the country, according to the AVCA Week 5 poll. WUSTL was third on someone’s ballot last week, but the Bears now have all of the votes. WUSTL is followed by No. 2 Calvin, No. 3 Wittenberg, No. 4 Hope and No. 5 Christopher Newport.

My top 10 was similar again this week. I had No. 10 Puget Sound and No. 11 Otterbein reversed and I still don’t understand why Emory is behind Christopher Newport.

Cortland fell from the top 10 after its two-loss week, going from No. 9 to No. 12. Elmhurst is in the top 10 for the first time this season, moving up from No. 11 to take Cortland’s vacated ninth spot.

Big movers: Colorado College dropped five spots to No. 22 after a 2-2 week. UW-Stevens Point rose four spots to No. 20 after winning its only match of the week.

No. 23 Heidelberg (13-6) fell from the top 25. Wellesley (12-1) entered the poll at No. 25.

Other Central and Midwest teams in the Week 5 poll: No. 7 St. Thomas; No. 13 Chicago; No. 15 Wartburg; No. 16 UW-Whitewater; No. 24 Carthage. Receiving votes: Saint Benedict.

-Ricky Nelson