Northwestern Enters National Tournament Ranked No. 8 in the NAIA

Eighth-straight poll with NWC inside the top-10

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Northwestern College volleyball team (21-7, 11-5 GPAC) will enter the 2022 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament ranked No. 8 in the final poll of the season, the national office announced this morning.

The poll marks the eighth-straight poll the Red Raiders have been ranked inside the top-10, as NWC has sat squarely in the top-10 all season long from the preseason poll until today's installment. The streak began in the postseason poll of the 2021 season, where Northwestern saw a massive leap from No. 21 to No. 8 after making it to the Quarterfinals for the third-straight season.

The Mountaineers of Eastern Oregon University (28-2, 21-1 CCC) remains the top-ranked team in the NAIA thanks to their 28-2 record. The rest of the top-5 teams remain the same with just some slight shuffling between them. Jamestown holds steady at No. 2, but Midland and Corban (Ore.) switch spots, now ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The Bulldogs of Concordia (Neb.) finished in a tie for fourth with Corban, both having 523 points.

After falling in the Quarterfinals to now No. 6-ranked Dakota Wesleyan, the Raiders await their Opening Round opponent. The NAIA is set to unleash the Opening Round pairings on Monday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. (CT).

In the final installment, six Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) teams are ranked inside the top-25. Three GPAC teams now find themselves in the top-5 this poll. Jamestown holds steady at No. 2, Midland slides up to No. 3, and Concordia (Neb.) makes an appearance at No. 4 (tied with Corban). Inside the top-10, Dakota Wesleyan (No. 6) and Northwestern (No. 8).

The College of Saint Mary slid down three spots from No. 12 to No. 15, entering the national tournament. The Dordt Defenders dropped out of the top-25 and are now receiving 10 votes. The Hastings College Broncos sit just outside the top-25 receiving 93 votes, a mere five points away from No. 25-ranked Westmont (Calif.).

GPAC IN THE RANKINGS
No. 2 Jamestown Jimmies (29-2)
No. 3 Midland Warriors (25-3)
No. 4 (tied) Concordia (Neb.) Bulldogs (22-4)
No. 6 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers (22-6)
No. 8 NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS (22-7)
No. 15 College of Saint Mary Flames (19-8)

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