Air Force Holds Slim Lead Over St. Thomas in MCLA Division II Poll

ATLANTA — For the sixth consecutive week, Air Force is the top team in Division II according to the seventh installment of the MCLA New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll, which released Wednesday.

The Falcons (7-0), who will close the season on the weekend of April 20 with a pair of conference games, saw its margin trimmed in half from last week. Air Force has 14 of the 27 first-place votes.

Right on its heels is St. Thomas (9-0), as the Tommies grabbed the remaining top votes. St. Thomas remains in second for the fifth-straight period and is just two points behind the Falcons.

The Tommies have a chance at leaping over Air Force with games against No. 14 Dayton (2-3), No. 4 Grand Valley State (6-0) and No. 5 Rhode Island (6-0) in a three-day span this weekend.

The remainder of the Top 5 remained static with Montana State (10-1) in third followed by the Lakers and Rams.

Loyola-Marymount (7-2) jumps into the poll, but the Lions don’t displace any teams, as they are in a tie for No. 25 with Florida Gulf Coast (4-6).

MCLA DIVISION II
COACHES POLL

1. Air Force, 662 (14 first-place votes)
2. St. Thomas, 660 (13)
3. Montana State, 616
4. Grand Valley State, 591
5. Rhode Island, 540
6. Kennesaw State, 518
7. UNC-Charlotte, 500
8. Coastal Carolina, 496
9. Florida Atlantic, 485
10. Cal State San Marcos, 444
11. Northwest Nazarene, 390
12. Wake Forest, 388
13. UC San Diego, 339
14. Dayton, 333
15. North Dakota State, 297
16. Denver, 243
17. Utah State, 212
18. Bridgewater State, 181
19. College of Idaho, 153
20. Montana, 134
T21. Minn.-Duluth, 114
T21. Missouri State, 114
T21. Northern Arizona, 114
T21. Western Washington, 114
T25. Florida Gulf Coast, 48
T25. Loyola Marymount, 48

Others receiving votes: Appalachian State (32), Saint Mary’s (3), Tampa (2), UC Davis (2), William & Mary (1), UNC-Wilmington (1)