Top 25 Poll ? No. 2
Mar 06, 2012
By Jake Knabel, NAIA Communications & Sports Information Intern
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fresno Pacific maintained its perch atop the NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll with the release of the second regular-season edition, the national office announced Tuesday. The Sunbirds, who collected all 13 first-place votes for 343 points, have been a unanimous No. 1 pick in every poll this season and are closing in on Auburn Montgomery’s NAIA record with 21-straight top rankings. Fresno Pacific has run its streak to 18-consecutive No. 1 appearances following an 8-0 start to the 2012 season.
The rest of the top five also remains the same as this season’s previous two polls. No. 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.), which improved to 5-1 with a 5-4 win over NCAA Division II fourth-ranked Concordia (N.Y.) on March 4, earned 332 points. No. 3 Oklahoma Christian remained unbeaten by defeating NCAA Division II East Central on Feb. 26 and gathered 321 points. No. 4 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and No. 5 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) round out the top five with 309 and 297 points, respectively.
Overall, all ranked teams from the Feb. 21 poll release remained in the Top 25 this week. Only slight changes occurred as the biggest advancements in the poll was just two spots. No. 6 Vanguard (Calif.), No. 16 Warner (Fla.), No. 18 Webber International (Fla.) and No. 20 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) each nudged up two places.
Meanwhile, No. 23 St. Thomas (Fla.) experienced the biggest drop as it spiraled back five positions. 14 of the Top 25 teams landed in exactly the same spot as on Feb. 21.
Ten of the 13 conferences/independents/unaffiliated groupings are represented in the poll with the Golden State Athletic Conference leading the pack with six ranked members: Fresno Pacific, Azusa Pacific, No. 6 Vanguard (Calif), No. 7 Westmont (Calif.), No. 8 Point Loma Nazarene and No. 11 Concordia (Calif.).
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences/independents/unaffiliated groupings. The next poll will be released on March 20.
Notes: (All information as of the 2000 season) Fresno Pacific (Calif.) increased its all-time No. 1 appearances to 18, which trails only Auburn Montgomery’s (Ala.) NAIA-leading 27 No. 1s and Azusa Pacific’s (Calif.) 23 top mentions … Oklahoma City’s 13 No. 1 rankings are fourth most, followed by SCAD Savannah (Ga.) with two … The Sunbirds’ active streak of 18-straight No. 1 rankings is second all-time behind Auburn Montgomery’s streak of 21-consecutive top ratings, which spanned the 2007 – 2009 seasons … Fresno Pacific has now been the preseason No. 1 for three-straight years and became the sixth preseason top selection to go on to win the national title in 2011 … Auburn Montgomery was the last to accomplish the feat prior to Fresno Pacific, as the Senators did so in 2008.
Others receiving votes: Northwestern Ohio 61; Oklahoma Baptist 42; Spring Arbor (Mich.) 37; McPherson (Kan.) 22; Biola (Calif.) 19; Missouri Valley 14; Pikeville (Ky.) 13; Cumberland (Tenn.) 9; Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) 6; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 5; Brescia (Ky.) 5; Taylor (Ind.) 1; Davenport (Mich.) 1; Northwood (Fla.) 1; Hastings (Neb.) 1; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 1.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fresno Pacific maintained its perch atop the NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll with the release of the second regular-season edition, the national office announced Tuesday. The Sunbirds, who collected all 13 first-place votes for 343 points, have been a unanimous No. 1 pick in every poll this season and are closing in on Auburn Montgomery’s NAIA record with 21-straight top rankings. Fresno Pacific has run its streak to 18-consecutive No. 1 appearances following an 8-0 start to the 2012 season.
The rest of the top five also remains the same as this season’s previous two polls. No. 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.), which improved to 5-1 with a 5-4 win over NCAA Division II fourth-ranked Concordia (N.Y.) on March 4, earned 332 points. No. 3 Oklahoma Christian remained unbeaten by defeating NCAA Division II East Central on Feb. 26 and gathered 321 points. No. 4 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and No. 5 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) round out the top five with 309 and 297 points, respectively.
Overall, all ranked teams from the Feb. 21 poll release remained in the Top 25 this week. Only slight changes occurred as the biggest advancements in the poll was just two spots. No. 6 Vanguard (Calif.), No. 16 Warner (Fla.), No. 18 Webber International (Fla.) and No. 20 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) each nudged up two places.
Meanwhile, No. 23 St. Thomas (Fla.) experienced the biggest drop as it spiraled back five positions. 14 of the Top 25 teams landed in exactly the same spot as on Feb. 21.
Ten of the 13 conferences/independents/unaffiliated groupings are represented in the poll with the Golden State Athletic Conference leading the pack with six ranked members: Fresno Pacific, Azusa Pacific, No. 6 Vanguard (Calif), No. 7 Westmont (Calif.), No. 8 Point Loma Nazarene and No. 11 Concordia (Calif.).
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences/independents/unaffiliated groupings. The next poll will be released on March 20.
Notes: (All information as of the 2000 season) Fresno Pacific (Calif.) increased its all-time No. 1 appearances to 18, which trails only Auburn Montgomery’s (Ala.) NAIA-leading 27 No. 1s and Azusa Pacific’s (Calif.) 23 top mentions … Oklahoma City’s 13 No. 1 rankings are fourth most, followed by SCAD Savannah (Ga.) with two … The Sunbirds’ active streak of 18-straight No. 1 rankings is second all-time behind Auburn Montgomery’s streak of 21-consecutive top ratings, which spanned the 2007 – 2009 seasons … Fresno Pacific has now been the preseason No. 1 for three-straight years and became the sixth preseason top selection to go on to win the national title in 2011 … Auburn Montgomery was the last to accomplish the feat prior to Fresno Pacific, as the Senators did so in 2008.
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (13) | 5-0 | 343 |
| 2 | 2 | Embry-Riddle (Fla.) | 5-1 | 332 |
| 3 | 3 | Oklahoma Christian | 5-0 | 321 |
| 4 | 4 | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 5-1 | 309 |
| 5 | 5 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) | 3-3 | 297 |
| 6 | 8 | Vanguard (Calif.) | 4-4 | 290 |
| 7 | 6 | Westmont (Calif.) | 3-3 | 278 |
| 8 | 7 | Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) | 4-4 | 266 |
| 9 | 9 | Xavier (La.) | 4-1 | 253 |
| 10 | 10 | Shorter (Ga.) | 6-3 | 241 |
| 11 | 12 | Concordia (Calif.) | 3-5 | 231 |
| 12 | 12 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 7-3 | 229 |
| 13 | 13 | William Carey (Miss.) | 1-2 | 210 |
| 14 | 14 | Aquinas (Mich.) | 3-1 | 197 |
| 15 | 15 | Bethany (Kan.) | 3-2 | 186 |
| 16 | 18 | Warner (Fla.) | 5-1 | 180 |
| 17 | 17 | Lee (Tenn.) | 2-1 | 167 |
| 18 | 20 | Webber International (Fla.) | 6-2 | 159 |
| 19 | 19 | Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) | 4-3 | 142 |
| 20 | 22 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 3-1 | 121 |
| 21 | 21 | Tennessee Wesleyan | 2-2 | 119 |
| 22 | 23 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 2-0 | 106 |
| 23 | 18 | St. Thomas (Fla.) | 0-6 | 92 |
| 24 | 25 | Martin Methodist (Tenn.) | 2-0 | 88 |
| 25 | 24 | Belhaven (Miss.) | 4-1 | 81 |
Others receiving votes: Northwestern Ohio 61; Oklahoma Baptist 42; Spring Arbor (Mich.) 37; McPherson (Kan.) 22; Biola (Calif.) 19; Missouri Valley 14; Pikeville (Ky.) 13; Cumberland (Tenn.) 9; Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) 6; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 5; Brescia (Ky.) 5; Taylor (Ind.) 1; Davenport (Mich.) 1; Northwood (Fla.) 1; Hastings (Neb.) 1; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 1.
