INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – No. 5 University of Northwestern Volleyball has been voted the best team in their region, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced on Wednesday. In addition to being ranked No. 1 in Region IX, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced the Eagles maintained their national ranking as the No. 5 team in the country.
No. 5 UNW, who is 26-2 overall this season, led the field of seven ranked teams in the region. The runner-ups to the Eagles in the regional rankings is No. 20 Coe, who UNW defeated 3-2 on the road last week. Following the Kohawks in third place is No. 15 Gustavus Adolphus, whom Northwestern swept 3-0 in September. Bethel (RV) was ranked fourth in the poll, who, like the Gusties, were also swept 3-0 by the Eagles last month. Fifth in the region is Cornell (RV), who are not on UNW's regular season schedule this year. After Cornell is No. 25 Augsburg in sixth place, who were scheduled to play Northwestern earlier this season before the match was canceled. Rounding out the rankings is St. Olaf in seventh, who upset Northwestern 3-1 this season in the final contest of a nine-match road gauntlet for the Eagles.
On Friday, Northwestern hosts a 7:00 P.M. match against Bethany Lutheran for their VIP Night and Faculty Appreciation Night. On Saturday, UNW hosts a 1:00 P.M. Senior Day match at home against Martin Luther College for their final regular season contest. If Northwestern, who is undefeated in the conference at 12-0 without having dropped a single set in any of the dozen matches, wins at least one of their final two matches this weekend, the Eagles will clinch the UMAC Regular Season Championship outright and lock up the No. 1 seed in the UMAC Tournament.
