Tampa Earns Spot at Top of National Volleyball Rankings
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A loss by four-time defending national champion Concordia University has given the University of Tampa a spot atop the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II rankings, which was announced Monday afternoon.
The 23-0 Spartans, who began the year as the No. 4 team in the AVCA preseason installment, are off to its best start in 23 years. The best start in program history was 25-0 in 1984.
Head coach Chris Catanach's squad is coming off three victories last week, including triumphs over Sunshine State Conference foes Barry and Lynn. The Spartans also swept Flagler College in a mid-week battle.
Tampa is now a perfect 10-0 in SSC play, as the lone undefeated team in league play and two matches ahead of Eckerd and 2.5 over Rollins.
UT received 20 first-place votes, with No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth gaining nine after its road victory over Concordia on Sunday. The top-five also includes Cal State-San Bernardino, Concordia and Washburn.
Tampa is the lone SSC and South Region school in the top-25, with 2011 opponents Eckerd, Rollins and West Florida each receiving votes.
The Spartans will face stiff competition this week in form of three road contests. The week begins with a Wednesday night meeting with longtime SSC rival Florida Southern. The Mocs have fared well throughout its history in breaking up UT streaks, ending undefeated records in 2008 (9-0), 2006 (17-0), 1986 (10-0) and 1984 (25-0).
Catanach's squad then faces off against Eckerd and St. Leo in weekend battles, beginning on Friday and wrapping up on Saturday. All three of this week's opponents have winning records.
Tampa has now been ranked for 212 straight weeks, which is the second-longest active streak to No. 7 Central Missouri. The Spartans have also been represented in the top-five for 23 consecutive releases.
The top billing marks the 24th week in program history that the Spartans have been ranked first. Tampa spent two weeks in 2010 at No. 1.