St. Thomas Climbs to No. 7, Reinhardt Holds Strong in NAIA Top 15

(Story provided by NAIA Athletic Communications)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The fifth NAIA Men's Volleyball Coaches' Top 15 saw a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) teams hold steady in the top 15.

The poll was released on Wednesday.

St. Thomas received 61 voting points to climb three spots to No. 7. Meanwhile, Reinhardt picked up 33 voting points to check in at No. 15.

	1. The Master's Matches prior to next poll: April 10 Arizona Christian, April 11 OUAZ (Ariz.) The Master's continued its strong run with a perfect 5–0 stretch since the last poll, dropping just one set across the five matches. The run began with a 3–1 win over Park-Gilbert (Ariz.) before the Mustangs settled into a rhythm, sweeping Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.), Hope International (Calif.), La Sierra (Calif.), and Soka (Calif.) all by identical 3–0 scores. Over the span, The Master's showed impressive balance and consistency, hitting efficiently while limiting opponents' opportunities, particularly during the four-match streak of sweeps.
	2. Park (Mo.) Matches prior to next poll:  April 11 Morningside (Iowa) Park put together a five-match winning streak since the previous poll, highlighted by four sweeps and a hard-fought five-set victory. The stretch opened with a 3–0 win over UHSP (Mo.) before Park battled past Missouri Baptist in an exciting 3–2 matchup, showing resilience and depth in a five-set test. The momentum carried onto the road with a clean sweep at Grand View (Iowa), followed by decisive 3–0 home and away wins against William Penn (Iowa) and Kansas Wesleyan.
	3. Saint Xavier (Ill.) Matches prior to next poll: none Saint Xavier capped off a strong recent stretch with five consecutive wins since the previous poll. The Cougars opened the run with three straight-set victories over Governors State (Ill.), Judson (Ill.), and Viterbo (Wis.), controlling each match with steady offensive production and solid defensive play. On April 4, Saint Xavier was tested in a tightly contested five-set battle against Indiana Tech, emerging with a 3–2 win. The stretch concluded with another sweep on the road at Calumet (Ind.).
	4. Missouri Valley Matches prior to next poll: none  Missouri Valley put together an impressive five-match winning streak since the last poll, going undefeated and dropping only two sets during the span. The Vikings opened with 3–0 sweeps over Kansas Wesleyan and Graceland (Iowa) at home, setting the tone with strong offensive efficiency and consistent execution. That momentum carried onto the road with additional straight-set wins at Clarke (Iowa) and Mount Mercy (Iowa), where Missouri Valley maintained control despite extended rallies and tougher defensive sequences. The stretch closed with a hard-fought 3–2 victory at Ottawa (Kan.), as the Vikings showed resilience and composure in a five-set battle to seal the week.
	5. Mount Mercy (Iowa) Matches prior to next poll: April 11 Ottawa (Kan.) Mount Mercy posted a strong 4–1 stretch since the previous poll, highlighted by four sweeps and consistent play on both sides of the net. The run began with impressive 3–0 road wins at Morningside (Iowa) and Dordt (Iowa), where the Mustangs were efficient offensively and controlled the pace of play. Mount Mercy continued that momentum at home with a clean sweep of Culver-Stockton (Mo.) before suffering its lone setback, a 3–0 loss to Missouri Valley, despite competitive set scores. The Mustangs bounced back quickly to close the stretch with another straight-set road victory at Clarke (Iowa), reinforcing their ability to respond and finish matches decisively.

Dropped from the Top 15: Dordt (Iowa)

Receiving Votes: Dordt (Iowa) 18, Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 16, Indiana Tech 8, Oakland City (Ind.) 8, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) 7, Cumberland (Tenn.) 2, Ottawa (Kan.) 2

Poll Methodology

• The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
• A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
• The Top 15 teams are selected using a points-based system:
  • 20 points for a 1st-place vote, 19 for 2nd, 18 for 3rd, and so on.
• The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
• Teams receiving only one point are not listed as "receiving votes."
• For the Preseason Poll, there is no "previous ranking" column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system. 

Key: RV - Receiving Votes, NR - Not Ranked, ▲- Climbed, ▼- Dropped, ● - Steady