AVCA Week 4 poll: Cornell ranked for first time

Not much changed near the top of the Week 4 AVCA poll, as expected. The top six didn’t lose a match, so the top six — led by unanimous Calvin at No. 1 — remained the same. Juniata and Colorado College lost one match and fell one spot each, to eighth and 11th respectively.

Washington-St. Louis lost but didn’t suffer the same fate as JC and CC. The Bears lost at home to Elmhurst but stayed at No. 9. Saint Benedict jumped two spots and is back at the No. 10 spot vacated by Colorado.

Cornell took Emory to five sets in Atlanta and the Rams were rewarded with their first-ever top 25 appearance, debuting in a tie for 25th. It’s been a long time coming and well deserved.

Other Central and Midwest teams in the Week 4 top 25: No. 3 St. Thomas; No. 6 Elmhurst; No. 17 UW-Whitewater; No. 18 Chicago; No. 19 Augsburg.

Central and Midwest teams receiving votes in the Week 4 poll: Nebraska Wesleyan; UW-Stevens Point; Carthage; Coe; Concordia-Moorhead; Wartburg.

My Week 4 top 10 was similar to the AVCA poll once again. I like mine better, but the 48 voters wound up with another good poll. I think Mary Hardin-Baylor and Nebraska Wesleyan are deserving of the top 25 this week, but I’m glad to see Williams in there at No. T25. Voters, seriously, why is Christopher Newport still in the top 25? The Captains’ rigorous schedule is commendable, but the results just don’t support the votes.

-Ricky Nelson