LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Minnesota State continued its grip on the No. 1 spot in the 2018 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Wednesday. The top six spots remained the same as the Mavericks (9-0) received 14 of a possible 16 first-place votes and 398 points.
Minnesota State is one of five undefeated teams in the top-10 and six in the top-25. The Mavericks went a perfect 5-0 in the Regional Crossover at Saint Cloud State. MSU topped Missouri Western twice (8-7 in 10 inn., 15-5), Nebraska-Kearney (12-0), Fort Hays State (7-1) and Southwest Baptist (3-0).
No. 2 North Georgia added six more wins to its resume as it improved to 21-0. The NightHawks received the final two first-place votes and 384 points. UNG swept Shorter in a home doubleheader by identical 2-0 scores and went 4-0 in Florida, defeating Wheeling Jesuit (6-2, 9-1) and Dominican College (4-0, 2-0).
No. 3 Colorado Mesa (12-0) took the first two contests of a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series from Chadron State (6-0, 11-1), while No. 4 Dixie State (17-0) earned big wins over then-No. 16 Concordia Irvine (1-0, 9-6) in PacWest Conference play.
No. 5 Angelo State (17-1) swept a pair of doubleheaders from Western New Mexico (8-0, 8-0, 12-0, 4-3 in 9 inn.) with the first three being Lone Star Conference competition. No. 6 West Virgina Wesleyan opens play on March 3.
Undefeated Chico State, coming off a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association sweep of Cal State East Bay, moved up one spot to No. 7. The wins extend the Wildcats’ school-record winning streak to 17 games.
Saint Leo and West Texas A&M each improved their positions after being tied for 10th last week. The eighth-ranked Lions (12-3) swept a three-game Sunshine State Conference series from Florida Tech (1-0, 7-4, 3-1). The ninth-ranked Lady Buffs (11-1) lost their contests to weather.
Harding entered the top-10 for the first time this season. The Bisons (6-1) battled weather as well as they were only able to get one of their four Great American Conference contests against Southwestern Oklahoma State in, defeating the Lady Bulldogs 9-2.
No. 24 Saginaw Valley State (2-0) joined the top 25 after receiving votes in the first two polls, while No. 16 Sonoma State (13-5) and No. 25 Queens (15-2) are brand new additions to the 2018 poll. No. 24 UC San Diego (13-4), which went 4-0 last week, dropped out, as did No. 15 Wayne State (1-4), No. 23 North Greenville (8-4) and t-No. 25 Carson-Newman (11-5).
The 2018 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through Feb. 25, 2018.
2018 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll – Feb . 28 (Week 2)
Rank
Team
Points
Record
Previous
1
Minnesota State
398
9-0
1
2
North Georgia
384
21-0
2
3
Colorado Mesa
360
12-0
3
4
Dixie State
357
15-0
4
5
Angelo State
328
17-1
5
6
West Virginia Wesleyan
320
0-0
6
7
Chico State
307
17-0
8
8
Saint Leo
282
12-3
10
9
West Texas A&M
257
11-1
10
10
Harding
256
6-1
12
11
North Alabama
229
10-2
13
12
Southern Arkansas
202
10-2
7
13
Southern Indiana
184
5-3
9
14
West Florida
161
9-5
17
15
Lenoir-Rhyne
159
11-4
14
16
Sonoma State
144
13-5
17
Palm Beach Atlantic
143
10-2
18
18
Cameron
112
14-3
21
19
Winona State
107
7-2
19
20
Concordia Irvine
79
7-4
16
21
Texas A&M Commerce
68
11-5
t-25
22
Merrimack
64
5-1
22
23
Valdosta State
60
14-4
20
24
Saginaw Valley State
53
2-0
RV
25
Queens (N.C.)
50
15-2
New to Poll: No. 16 Sonoma State, No. 24 Saginaw Valley State, No. 25 Queens (N.C.)
Dropped Out: No. 15 Wayne State (Mich.), No. 23 North Greenville, No. 24 UC San Diego, t-No. 25 Carson-Newman.
Receiving Votes: UC San Diego (40), Indianapolis (21), Central Oklahoma (17), Tarleton State (17), California Baptist (13), Lee (11), Arkansas Tech (9), Lander (4), Molloy (3), Coker (1).
The 2018 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regionals. Records reflect games played through Feb. 25, 2018.