WSC unanimous #1 team, UNK moves up to #6 in NCAA Division II volleyball rankings

WAYNE, Neb. -- The Wayne State College volleyball team has strengthened its hold on the top spot in the NCAA Division II rankings, while the Wildcats' in-state rival UNK remains close behind at No. 6.

The Wildcats claimed all 47 first-place votes in the AVCA Coaches poll after a week in which Wayne State picked up road sweeps at St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth, teams that were ranked fourth and ninth respectively in the previous poll.

Wayne State is off to a 16-0 start, matching the 2010 team's school-record winning streak. The 2010 season was only other year during which the Wildcats were ranked No. 1.

Fellow in-state school UNK climbed one spot in the rankings, moving up to No. 6. The Lopers are 15-1 after picking up road wins in Missouri over the weekend. UNK topped then-No. 17 Central Missouri in a five-set thriller on Saturday. The Lopers' lone loss of the season came in five sets to then-No. 1 Washburn on Sept. 10.

Wayne State will look to set a new school record for consecutive wins when it takes on Bemidji State on Friday and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. Both matches will be held at Rice Auditorium.

The Wildcats will bring the NSIC's players of the week into their matches, with Taya Beller and Maggie Brahmer having claimed the conference's top weekly honors on Monday.

UNK will host Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State in Kearney this week before welcoming eight-ranked Washburn to central Nebraska for a rematch next week.