Chapman's Turn at No. 1 in MCLA Division I Coaches Poll

ATLANTA — For the third time in as many weeks, we have new No. 1 in the MCLA Division I New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll, and this time, it’s Chapman that receives top billing.

Thanks to the two previous top-ranked teams each losing in the span of four days last week, the Panthers (6-0) vault into the big chair by poaching 18 of the 27 first-place votes cast.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, as three of Chapman’s next four games come against top 10 outfits, starting with a home affair against No. 5 Utah Valley (5-0) on Thursday.

Brigham Young (4-0) jumps two spots in the poll, settling in at No. 2. The Cougars will get to prove their mettle this week in Jacksonville, Fla., with contests against No. 7 Liberty (6-2) and No. 14 Florida (4-3). BYU accumulated four first-place votes.

Texas (9-0) is the big mover this week, jumping six spots all the way up to No. 3 — its highest-ever ranking. Texas makes the leap after a 3-0 weekend in Berkeley that included a win over former No. 1 and current No. 8 Georgia Tech (8-2). The Longhorns were awarded four first-place votes.

Virginia Tech (8-1), which slipped out of the top spot last week, checks in at No. 4 after an idle interval. The Hokies will resume play with a bang, hosting Chapman and Utah Valley in a three-day span starting on March 21.

Georgia (3-5) left the Top 25 this week to make way for Indiana (6-0). The Hoosiers enter the poll for the first time in a decade.

MCLA DIVISION I COACHES POLL

1. Chapman, 665 (18 first-place votes)
2. Brigham Young, 625 (4)
3. Texas, 601 (4)
4. Virginia Tech, 593 (1)
5. Utah Valley, 574
6. San Diego State, 537
7. Liberty, 488
8. Georgia Tech, 483
9. South Carolina, 450
10. California, 422
11. UC Santa Barbara, 394
12. Colorado, 378
13. Tennessee, 346
14. Florida, 321
15. Florida State, 305
16. James Madison, 264
17. Oregon, 227
18. Arizona State, 192
19. Auburn, 189
20. Simon Fraser, 175
21. Northeastern, 124
22. Arizona, 90
23. Cal Poly, 72
24. Colorado State, 41
25. Indiana, 38

Others receiving votes: Georgia (36), Boise State (30), Clemson (30), Utah (23), Southern Methodist (21), Michigan State (13), Sonoma State (11), Baylor (7), New Hampshire (4), West Virginia (4), Boston College (2)