Full Poll
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - For the first time in WKU Volleyball history, the Lady Toppers were voted into the top spot of VolleyballMag.com's Mid-Major Poll. WKU received four first-place votes from the panel of coaches representing 10 different conferences across the country.
In its inaugural year, the VolleyballMag.com Mid-Major Poll is the first of its kind, focusing solely on NCAA Division I teams outside of the Power-Five conferences. Outside of the Power Five, there are 27 conferences, including 271 volleyball teams eligible for the Mid-Major Poll.
"It is tremendous to see our kids receive this recognition for the incredible consistency with which they have played this season," WKU head coach Travis Hudson said. "We have only lost one match all season at full strength (All-American setter Jessica Lucas missed the Cal Poly match) and that was to Michigan State in five sets. I'm very proud of our team and the season they have put together at this point."
WKU opened the season at No. 5 in the weekly Mid-Major poll back on August 23. For the next six weeks, the Lady Toppers remained at fourth or fifth in the VolleyballMag.com rankings before breaking into the top three on Oct. 11, following the squad's win at Southern Miss. The Red and White came in at No. 2 for the next two polls, which followed WKU victories over Lipscomb, UTSA and three other Conference USA squads.
Two days after WKU Volleyball won its 15th-consecutive match of the 2016 season, the Lady Toppers were voted No. 1, surpassing previously top-ranked San Diego, which fell to the third spot. Also ranking in the top five of the most recent Mid-Major Poll are BYU at No. 2, Creighton in fourth and Hawai'i in fifth.
Programs found in both the poll and on WKU's 2016 schedule include Arkansas State (No. 13), Southern Illinois (No. T-17), Lipscomb (No. T-19), Cal Poly (No. 22), and UTSA (No. 24). Cincinnati is also receiving votes.
With their final three regular-season contests at home in the E.A. Diddle Arena, the Lady Toppers secured a perfect 11-0 away record during regular-season play. WKU Volleyball will look to complete its first undefeated conference season since the 2012 campaign as the Lady Toppers are currently 11-0 in league play entering the final two weeks of play.
