Valley Ranked #1 in Men's Lacrosse Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri Valley claimed five of six first place votes to earn the top spot in the NAIA Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Preseason Top Poll on Tuesday afternoon.
The Vikings were the 2016 NAIA National Invitational runner-up after posting a 20-4 overall record, falling 13-10 to Davenport (Mich.) in the championship game. Missouri Valley opens the 2017 campaign this Saturday, February 4 against NCAA Division II Rockhurst (Mo.).
Lourdes (Ohio) earned the remaining first place vote to take the No. 2 spot, while Missouri Baptist, Reinhardt (Ga.) and Siena Heights (Mich.) round out the top five.
Men's Lacrosse is now in the final year of the two-year process towards becoming an NAIA National Championship sports. The 2017 NAIA National Invitational is scheduled for May 3-6 in Greenville, S.C.
NAIA Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Preseason Top 10 Poll
RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL (1st place votes) | 2016 Record | Total Points |
1 | 2 | Missouri Valley (5) | 20-4 | 66 |
2 | 3 | Lourdes (Ohio) (1) | 16-5 | 59 |
3 | 5 | Missouri Baptist | 8-1 | 58 |
4 | 6 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 11-5 | 55 |
5 | 4 | Siena Heights (Mich.) | 12-5 | 51 |
6 | 9 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 9-5 | 46 |
7 | 10 | Indiana Tech | 5-9 | 40 |
8 | RV | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 7-5 | 39 |
9 | RV | Robert Morris (Ill.) | 2-6 | 31 |
9 | NR | Saint Mary (Kan.) | 6-9 | 31 |
Receiving Votes: Aquinas (Mich.) 26, Tennessee Wesleyan 23; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 20; Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 11; Asbury (Ky.) 5; Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 4; SUNY Delhi (N.Y.) 3