Spartans Hold No. 7 Spot in Newest AVCA Poll
LEXINGTON, Ky. - With an eight-match winning streak and perfect Sunshine State Conference showing, the University of Tampa volleyball team remains No. 7 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association of America (AVCA) national poll.
The Spartans have been ranked in the top-10 for the entire 2012 season and are coming off a pair of home victories in league play, defeating Nova Southeastern and Lynn by identical 3-0 scores. UT has recorded a straight-set sweep in every match during its current unbeaten streak.
Concordia-St. Paul is the new No. 1 as Southwest Minnesota State had previously held the top spot for four straight weeks. Nebraska-Kearney and Southwest Minnesota State are tied for second as Washburn is No. 4 with BYU-Hawaii and Minnesota-Duluth tied at No. 5. Concordia received 28 of the 32 first-place votes as BYU-Hawaii received two while Nebraska-Kearney and Southwest Minnesota State each received a vote apiece.
The Spartans represent the only Sunshine State Conference program ranked in the top 25. NCAA South Region foe West Florida comes in at No. 17 as Palm Beach Atlantic is receiving votes. 2012 opponents Central Missouri (8), West Texas A&M (9), Colorado School of Mines (12), Regis (14) and Indianapolis (19) are all ranked, as West Florida also appears on the Spartan schedule for two matches.
Head coach Chris Catanach has coached his Spartan squad to 228 consecutive weeks in the top-25, marking the second-longest active streak in the nation to Central Missouri.
Tampa is now 25-3 on the season and the lone undefeated team in SSC play at 14-0. With Saturday's victory over Lynn, UT clinched at least a share of its eighth straight SSC title. The league championship marks the 22nd in program history.
After recording the program's 1,000 win on Oct. 10 at Eckerd, coach Catanach is now approaching his 900th career victory as the third winningest coach in NCAA II history now stands at 899 career victories.
UT concludes its regular season this week as it will welcome Eckerd to the Martinez Center for a mid-week match. A Spartan victory would give them an outright SSC title as the match is Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Spartans will then travel to Barry for a Saturday match at 4 p.m.
Live stats and a webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv for all home matches.
Among NCAA national leaders, reigning SSC and South Region Player of the Year Danielle Selkridge continues to be the national leader in hitting percentage at .494 as her setter, Kahley Patrick, is 42nd in assists per set at 10.23. Meagan Burke is now 8th in hitting percentage with a .402 clip. Selkridge also ranks 40th in points per game at 4.22.
As a team, the Spartans rank among national leaders in several categories. Catanach's squad is 11th in assists per set (13.38), 13th in blocks per set (2.44), third in hitting percentage (.319) and ninth in kills per set (14.55).
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