The Wayne State volleyball team is listed ninth in the first Div. II Central Region Volleyball Rankings announced by the NCAA.
Nebraska-Kearney debuts as the top team in the region, followed by four NSIC teams in Minnesota Duluth, Concordia-St. Paul, Northern State and St. Cloud State. Washburn, Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State from the MIAA are sixth, seventh and eighth with Wayne State ninth and Winona State closing out the top 10.
Conference tournament champions from the NSIC, MIAA and Great American Conference automatically qualify for the Central Region tournament, set for Dec. 5-7 at the site of the top seed. The rest of the tournament field will include teams among the top 10 in the regional rankings.
Wayne State is 20-5 on the season and 11-5 in the NSIC following Tuesday night’s 3-0 win at No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State. The 13th-ranked Wildcats will play at Minot State Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Mary Saturday in an 11 a.m. contest.
NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings (as of November 4, 2016)
(Note: In-region record is in parenthesis)
1. Nebraska-Kearney 24-0 (23-0)
2. Minnesota Duluth 20-3 (17-2)
3. Concordia-St. Paul 19-4 (15-3)
4. Northern State 20-3 (20-3)
5. St. Cloud State 19-4 (14-4)
6. Washburn 22-2 (18-2)
7. Central Missouri 18-7 (14-5)
8. NW Missouri State 18-6 (16-6)
9. Wayne State 19-5 (15-5)
10. Winona State 18-5 (11-5)
