The Wayne State volleyball team is ranked 12th in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association Div. II Top 25 coaches’ poll for the 2016 season. It marks the ninth straight year that the Wildcats ended the season ranked in the top 25 poll, and it’s the 102nd consecutive national ranking for the Wildcat volleyball program dating back to Sept. 28, 2009.
The Wildcats received 706 points in voting conducted by coaches from across the country and finished the 2016 season with a 24-8 record, advancing to the NCAA Div. II national tournament for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons.
Wayne State was one of six Northern Sun Conference schools in the final rankings, led by eventual national champion Concordia-St. Paul. Southwest Minnesota State was ranked second, ahead of national runner-up Alaska-Anchorage. Other NSIC schools in the final rankings include No. 4 Winona State, No. 7 Minnesota Duluth, No. 8 Augustana and No. 21 Northern State. Ten Central Region schools were in the final rankings, including four MIAA schools -- No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney, No. 13 Washburn, No. 15 Central Oklahoma and No. 19 Central Missouri.
The final top 25 is as follows:
1. Concordia-St. Paul
2. Southwest Minnesota State
3. Alaska-Anchorage
4. Winona State
5. Nebraska-Kearney
6. Palm Beach Atlantic
7. Minnesota Duluth
8. Augustana
9. Wheeling Jesuit
10. Lewis
11. Angelo State
12. Wayne State
13. Washburn
14. Western Washington
15. Central Oklahoma
16. Ferris State
17. Cal State San Bernardino
18. Metro State
19. Central Missouri
20. Colorado School of Mines
21. Northern State
22. Concordia (Calif.)
23. Rockhurst
24. Tampa
25. Tarleton State
