LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following a Sunday split with two-time reigning national champion Virginia Wesleyan, Christopher Newport University took over the top spot in this week’s NFCA Division III Top 25.
The (16-2) Captains end a streak of 25 straight weeks at No. 1 for Virginia Wesleyan (19-2), who lost twice -- both to ranked teams -- in a 4-2 week. Before being two-hit by two-time reigning Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Player of the Year Hanna Hull in Sunday’s opener, Christopher Newport had won 15 straight games. The Captains rebounded to edge the Marlins, 2-1 in eight innings, in the nightcap.
Virginia Wesleyan, which split with then-No. 24 Randolph-Macon earlier in the week, meanwhile, drops to No. 2 in the rankings. The Marlins are still 82-5 over their last 87 games.
East Texas Baptist (24-1) continued its roll, moving up three places this week to third, ahead of St. Thomas (10-2), which lost twice in a 4-2 week, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (6-2) in fifth and Lynchburg (22-4) in sixth. Illinois Wesleyan (10-3), last year’s national runner-up, slid three spots to No. 7 after a three-loss week.
The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Current 2019 records are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.
NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll – March 27, 2019
|
Rank |
Team |
2019 Record |
Points |
Previous |
|
1 |
Christopher Newport (8) |
16-2 |
200 |
2 |
|
2 |
Virginia Wesleyan |
19-2 |
192 |
1 |
|
3 |
East Texas Baptist |
24-1 |
184 |
6 |
|
4 |
St. Thomas (Minn.) |
10-2 |
176 |
3 |
|
5 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
6-2 |
168 |
5 |
|
6 |
Lynchburg |
22-4 |
160 |
15 |
|
7 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
10-3 |
152 |
4 |
|
8 |
Texas Lutheran |
17-5 |
151 |
19 |
|
9 |
Kean |
16-1 |
150 |
13 |
|
10 |
Ithaca |
7-3 |
128 |
10 |
|
11 |
Coe |
18-3 |
120 |
8 |
|
12 |
Manhattanville |
12-0 |
101 |
14 |
|
T13 |
Berry |
16-3 |
93 |
17 |
|
T13 |
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps |
18-5 |
93 |
11 |
|
15 |
Linfield |
16-4-1 |
87 |
12 |
|
16 |
Williams |
12-4 |
79 |
7 |
|
T17 |
Trine |
12-2 |
57 |
RV |
|
T17 |
Wisconsin-Whitewater |
5-3 |
57 |
9 |
|
19 |
Millikin |
14-2 |
49 |
23 |
|
20 |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
13-2 |
37 |
22 |
|
21 |
Saint Benedict (Minn.) |
12-4 |
35 |
RV |
|
22 |
Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
8-2 |
33 |
21 |
|
23 |
Tufts |
13-2 |
24 |
RV |
|
24 |
Moravian |
15-3 |
14 |
NR |
|
25 |
Muskingum |
16-4 |
11 |
RV |
Others receiving votes: Luther 9, Pacific 6, Calvin 3, North Central 3, Whitworth 3, Wisconsin-Stout 3, Hope 2, Case Western Reserve 1, Geneseo 1 and Randolph-Macon 1.
Dropped out: Amherst, Nebraska Wesleyan, Pomona-Pitzer, Salisbury and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
* NOTE: Texas-Tyler is reclassifying to NCAA Division II, and Pfeiffer continues the process of going from Division II to Division III. Neither is eligible for the NCAA Division III Championship.
