No. 1 Virginia Tech Maintains Big Lead in MCLA Division I Poll

ATLANTA — Virginia Tech held off former No. 4 South Carolina on Friday night to help keep the Hokies’ stranglehold on the top spot in week two of the MCLA Division I New Balance Coaches Poll, which released Wednesday.

Virginia Tech (5-0) gobbled up 25 of the 26 first-place ballots cast this week, keeping the Hokies over 30 points clear of the field. Tech hosts No. 7 Liberty (2-1) on Wednesday evening in what could be a preview of the Atlantic Lacrosse Conference (ALC) tournament final.

Georgia Tech (6-0), which was awarded the remaining first-place vote, remains at No. 2 heading into a weekend when it entertains New Hampshire (2-0) and Texas A&M (2-2).

After sweeping a pair of ranked opponents on the road, Chapman (3-0) remains solidly in the third spot followed by Utah Valley (2-0) in fourth.

No. 5 Brigham Young finally opens its 2024 account when it hosts No. 14 Arizona State (3-1) on Saturday in Provo.

Cal Poly (2-3) and Clemson (3-3) were escorted out of the Top 25 this week to make room for No. 21 Tennessee (5-0) and No. 24 Colorado (2-2).

MCLA DIVISION I
NEW BALANCE COACHES POLL

1. Virginia Tech, 649 (25 first-place votes)
2. Georgia Tech, 616 (1)
3. Chapman, 596
4. Utah Valley, 521
5. Brigham Young, 509
6. Northeastern, 505
7. Liberty, 503
8. South Carolina, 493
9. San Diego State, 478
10. Texas, 409
11. Florida State, 358
12. Florida, 327
13. UC Santa Barbara, 308
14. Arizona State, 277
15. California, 259
16. Simon Fraser, 232
17. Oregon, 166
18. Arizona, 163
19. James Madison, 161
20. Georgia, 137
21. Tennessee, 110
T22. Auburn, 107
T22. Southern Methodist, 107
24. Colorado, 100
25. Boston College, 88

Others receiving votes: Cal Poly (81), Colorado State (68), Clemson (35), Indiana (18), Boise State (16), Sonoma State (12), Michigan State (11), New Hampshire (11), Baylor (9), Central Florida (5), West Virginia (2), Minnesota (2), Oklahoma (1)