Division II Regional Rankings (Nov. 2, 2016)

The University of Minnesota Duluth finds itself second in the inaugural NCAA Central Region Volleyball Rankings, released Wednesday. 

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has six of the top seven teams in the central region, including the top three teams. Concordia University-St. Paul takes the top spot, who the Bulldogs will host this weekend in a battle for first place in the NSIC. UMD takes second, followed by Southwest Minnesota State University coming in at third. Winona State University, Augustana (S.D.) University, and Wayne State College rank at five, six, and seven, respectively. 

The NSIC, the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC) make up the NCAA Central Region. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the NCAA region tournament on Dec. 1-3. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC postseason tournaments, with the remaining five spots awarded on an at-large basis. 

The NCAA Volleyball selection show will be streamed online on Monday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The 2016 NCAA DII Volleyball Elite 8 will be hosted the NSIC and the Sioux Falls Sports Commission at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Dec. 8-10.