BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The fourth NCAA Division I Volleyball RPI of the 2011 season was released Monday evening and Western Kentucky University found itself ranked No. 25 in the nation. With an overall record of 27-3 and a 14-1 mark in Sun Belt Conference play, the Lady Toppers are also ranked 28th in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
The NCAA RPI rankings take into account into account strength of schedule, as well as the team's record both on the road and at home. WKU recently completed a sweep of league foes, taking out Troy and South Alabama in straight sets on the road last weekend.
WKU is one of two Sun Belt teams currently ranked among the top-50 in the nation, with Middle Tennessee rated at No. 49. Two of the Lady Toppers' three losses have come against a top-20 squad in No. 13 Kentucky and No. 18 Cincinnati.
The Lady Toppers return to action Friday night when they travel to Alumni Memorial Gym in Murfreesboro, Tenn., at 7 p.m. Friday in a match that will decide the East Division championship, the regular-season Sun Belt title and the top seed in the conference tournament. The Lady Toppers only SBC loss of the season came against the Blue Raiders on Oct. 4 in Bowling Green.
The complete 2011 NCAA Division I Volleyball RPI rankings can be found at: http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/ncaa_womens_volleyball_rpi
