AVCA Week 9 first timers: Stevens Point ranked, Northwestern receiving votes

The Week 9 AVCA poll saw the inclusion of WIAC tri-champion and No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point at No. 24. The Pointers (25-6) entered the top 25 for the first time in program history. Stevens Point’s breakthrough leaves one program in the nine-team WIAC to have never entered the top 25.

Northwestern (26-5), the UMAC co-champion, received votes for the first time this season. Northwestern has never been in the top 25.

Heidelberg tumbled four spots to No. 9. Carthage (27-6) dropped from 10th to 11th, allowing Juniata to reenter the top 10 after a few weeks outside of the club for the first time in program history. Juniata (23-7) moved up on the heels of beating a tumbling Heidelberg and after scoring 39 points in thumping at the hands of No. 2 Emory.

The top four teams remained the same. Unanimous No. 1 Calvin (29-0) was followed by Emory (32-3), Washington (29-1) and Eastern (30-2). Wittenberg (29-3) took Heidelberg’s vacated fifth spot. Southwestern (28-2), Christopher Newport (30-4) and Concordia-Moorhead (23-3) were sixth through eighth.

Elmhurst (28-4) beat split two matches with Chicago (27-4) earlier this season, but the Bluejays are still ranked 17th, a spot below the Maroons. Coe more than doubled its vote total in the receiving votes portion of the poll.

Some records listed with the poll are still incorrect.

Central and Midwest teams receiving votes in the Week 9 AVCA poll. 3. Washington 8. Concordia-Moorhead 11. Carthage 12. St. Thomas 28-3 16. Chicago 17. Elmhurst 21. UW-Whitewater 24-7 24. UW-Stevens Point Receiving votes: Coe 31-3 (No. 29), Northwestern (No. 33).

-Ricky Nelson