Northwestern Tops Final Regular Season Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwestern remained in the top spot in the final regular season NAIA National Selection Committee (NSC) poll, the national office announced today.

The Raiders enter the postseason as the nation's No. 1 team after compiling a 26-1 record. Last weekend, Northwestern clinched the GPAC regular season title for the fourth consecutive season before posting its third-straight undefeated conference slate. The Raiders are in the top 10 nationally in kills per set (13.65), hitting percentage (.285), and assists per set (12.69).

Individually, Stella Winterfeld leads the country in kills per set (4.98) and Nyah Potthoff is fourth in assists per set (10.84). Halie Kapelke is the GPAC leader in hitting percentage (.337) with Maddy Sampson in third at a .319 efficiency.

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

Northwestern has been ranked in 74 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. 7 Morningside Mustangs
No. 14 Dordt Defenders
No. 16 Midland Warriors

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Players Mentioned

#24 Halie Kapelke: OPP; 6' 1"; Junior

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

#8 Maddy Sampson: MH; 6' 1"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

#24 Halie Kapelke
: 6' 1"; Junior
: OPP

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

#8 Maddy Sampson
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MH

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