NCAA Division II Regional Rankings (Nov. 4, 2015)

The University of Minnesota Duluth ranks tenth in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings released Wednesday, which would put them on the outside looking in at the NCAA II Central Region Tournament if the field was decided today.

No. 10 UMD, currently at 18-7 overall and 12-6 against regional competition, is the fifth-ranked NSIC team in the poll. No. 1 Concordia University, St. Paul leads the rankings at 20-4 overall and 16-3 in the region, followed by NSIC rivals No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State University, No. 3 Wayne State (Neb.) College, and No. 4 Northern State University. The Midwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) takes the next five spots with No. 9 Washburn University (who has the best record in region play at 25-2) leading that league.

The winners of the NSIC Postseason Tournament and the champions of the MIAA and Great American Conference (currently unrepresented in the top ten) get automatic bids to the tournament, leaving five at-large bids chosen by the teams ranked highest following postseason tournament play. By that notion, UMD will likely need to move up to at least the seventh position in the weeks to come to earn a playoff spot at-large. Of course, the Bulldogs could also do so by winning the NSIC Tournament, where they are the two-time defending champions.

The NCAA Volleyball selection show will be streamed online on Monday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

UMD takes on Minot State University and the University of Mary this weekend on the road. The Bulldogs and Beavers will get the weekend started at 7:00 p.m. Friday night in Minot, North Dakota.
 

CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS	IN-REGION	OVERALL
1. No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul (NSIC)	16-3	20-4
2. No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State (NSIC)	16-3	21-3
3. No. 3 Wayne State (NSIC)	18-3	22-3
4. No. 4 Northern State (NSIC)	18-2	22-2
5. No. 9 Washburn (MIAA)	25-2	25-2
6. No. 15 University of Central Oklahoma (MIAA)	20-2	23-3
7. No. 13 University of Central Missouri (MIAA)	18-3	22-4
8. No. 12 University of Nebraska-Kearney (MIAA)	19-5	20-5
9. Missouri Western State University [RV] (MIAA)	14-6	19-6
10. No. 10 UMD (NSIC)	12-6	18-7