New Top Team in MCLA Division II Coaches Poll for Third Straight Week

March 8, 2023

MCLA

ATLANTA — For the third consecutive week this spring, there is a new team atop the MCLA Division II New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll. This time, it’s Rhode Island at the top of the heap.

The Rams (5-1) pocketed 20 of the 27 first-place votes cast to push them nearly 30 points from the rest of the field.

St. Thomas (2-1), which started the season in the big chair, moved back to No. 2 this week aided by five first-place markers. Despite losing to their in-state rivals on Friday, formerly top-ranked Montana (6-1) retained a first-place vote and fell to No. 3 — one spot ahead of Montana State (3-1), which beat the Grizzlies 10-6 in Missoula. The Bobcats did get the remaining first-place vote.

Missouri State (3-0) bounced up a pair of spots to round out the top 5. There were no new teams added to the poll this period.

NEW BALANCE MCLA
DIVISION II COACHES POLL

Rank	Team	Points (1st)
1	Rhode Island	654 (20)
2	St. Thomas	635 (5)
3	Montana	603 (1)
4	Montana State	533 (1)
5	Missouri State	530
6	Kennesaw State	506
7	Grand Valley State	479
8	UC San Diego	450
9	Utah State	445
10	Cal State San Marcos	422
11	UNC-Charlotte	388
12	Florida Gulf Coast	380
13	Dayton	358
14	Wake Forest	328
15	Florida Atlantic	279
16	College of Idaho	244
17	North Dakota State	227
18	St. John's	225
19	Air Force	211
20	Miami	173
21	UC Davis	172
22	Minn.-Duluth	124
23	Coastal Carolina	119
24	Northwest Nazarene	81
25	Western Washington	55