ATLANTA — The gap has narrowed considerably, but St. Thomas has managed to hold on to its top spot in Week 2 of the New Balance MCLA Division II Coaches Poll, which was released on Wednesday.

The Tommies were awarded nine first-place votes, which kept them 24 points clear of the field; however, No. 2 Kennesaw State also snagged nine top votes in the process.

Utah State, which rolled through the UMLC with a 4-0 record — including an overtime win against St. Thomas — was slotted third with four first-place votes.

No. 4 Dayton and No. 5 Rhode Island were also each awarded a first-place vote.

Grand Valley State, which will open its season tomorrow evening against UMLC rival Dayton, also snagged a first-place vote to put it in the seventh chair.

There were no new entries to or departures from the poll this week.

NEW BALANCE MCLA
DIVISION II COACHES POLL

Also receiving votes: Coastal Carolina (75[1]), Northwest Nazarene (68), North Texas (26), Central Conn. State (25), Sierra Nevada (22), Baylor (10), Miami (10), San Diego (10), North Florida (9), Saint Mary’s (9), Elon (8), UT-San Antonio (7), Rice (7), Claremont (7), Texas A&M D-II (6), Western Washington (5), Western Oregon (5), UC Irvine (4), Maine (4), Air Force Academy (1).