Raiders Reclaim Top Spot in NAIA Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwestern claimed the top spot in the most recent NAIA National Selection Committee (NSC) poll, the national office announced today. The Raiders are back at the top after opening the year as the preseason No. 1.

Northwestern is back at No. 1 as they prepare to take on No. 8 Morningside this evening. The Raiders are riding an 18-match winning streak and have four games remaining on their schedule. Stella Winterfeld is the GPAC leader and is third in the NAIA in kills per set (4.85), while Nyah Potthoff is second in the conference and fifth nationally in assists per set (10.58). As a team, Northwestern is one of the most efficient offensive groups in the country, sitting fifth in the NAIA in hitting percentage (.290) and sixth in kills per set (13.43). The Raiders have won 52 consecutive GPAC regular season matches dating back to September 30, 2023.

Following Northwestern in the top five were Eastern Oregon, Concordia (Neb.), Missouri Baptist, and College of Idaho.

Northwestern has been ranked in 73 consecutive NAIA top 25 polls dating back to the 2016 season, which is second in the nation behind Eastern Oregon.

Members of NSC each completed an individual ballot based on data such as ranking percentage index (RPI), area rating committee standings (ARC), overall record, strength of schedule (SOS), and conference record. The same data being used come November when the selection committee is determining at-large teams and seeding the national championship field.

The full results of the NAIA NSC Poll are linked at the top of the story.

GPAC IN THE TOP 25
No. 1 Northwestern Red Raiders
No. 3 Concordia (Neb.) Bulldogs
No. 8 Morningside Mustangs
No. 14 Midland Warriors
No. 18 Dordt Defenders

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Players Mentioned

#2 Nyah Potthoff: S; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#5 Stella Winterfeld: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Nyah Potthoff
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: S

#5 Stella Winterfeld
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

Players Mentioned

#2 Nyah Potthoff

#5 Stella Winterfeld

Players Mentioned

#2 Nyah Potthoff

#5 Stella Winterfeld