UT Continues as the No. 2 Team in Division II

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Riding a six-game win-streak, the University of Tampa volleyball team maintains its No. 2 ranking in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) coaches' poll, as released Monday by the association office.

The Spartans carry an 11-3 overall record with a pristine 4-0 tally in Sunshine State Conference action. Tampa swept Barry University to extend its program record 56th consecutive SSC win, an active streak dating back to Oct. 31, 2011. UT then battled then-No. 17 Palm Beach Atlantic to a 3-1 win where the team hit a season-best .357 attack percentage and grounding another season-high 71 kills.

Seniors Jessica Wagner and Berkley Whaley earned Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, for their efforts leading Tampa to a 2-0 record on the week.

Anchored atop the poll is No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth, as the Bulldogs carry a 13-2 overall record and received 27 first-place votes. Maintaining the No. 3 ranking is Concordia-St. Paul with an 11-3 record, earning four first-place votes.

Ferris State and Southwest Minnesota State round out the top-five, keeping their previous week's ranking of No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

SSC foe and Tampa's next opponent, Florida Southern fell to No. 14 in the most recent release, dropping eight spots from No. 6 just a week ago. The Mocs went 0-for-2 last week, picking up their first loss of the season to Eckerd College before losing another contest in a 0-3 sweep at the hands of Saint Leo University.

Regional foe Palm Beach Atlantic sits No. 18 in the nation, dipping one spot after suffering a defeat from the Spartans on Saturday. Gulf South Conference member West Florida is the remaining regional opponent in the poll, earning a No. 19 rank.

Tampa has now earned a ranking from the AVCA for 261 consecutive polling periods, a mark that ranks second only to No. 11 Central Missouri, as both are active program records. UT holds the Division II record for most times ranked in the top 10 with 252 releases of the AVCA coaches' poll. The Spartans have garnered a top-10 rank for 140 consecutive releases.

Click here for the complete AVCA Week 5 Poll

UT will meet rival No. 14 Florida Southern College in a Thursday road contest, slated for a 7 p.m. start. Live stats will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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