Full AVCA Poll
INDIANAPOLIS - The latest AVCA Division II Coaches Poll was released Wednesday afternoon with five programs from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference ranked and Hillsdale slotted at No. 1 in the nation.
The Chargers' No. 1 ranking is the highest ranking in both school and conference history. Last week, Hillsdale ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll, but after adding another three-set sweep this week, the Chargers move up to the top of the rankings.
Hillsdale received 36 of 45 first-place votes and 1132 total points, as they sit at 5-0 on the season. The Chargers officially supplanted former No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, which has yet to make its season debut.
The AVCA filtered out all programs in Division II that have a 0-0 record from the poll.
The Chargers lead the league in a variety of team statistical categories including hitting percentage (.240), assists per set (12.94), kills per set (13.81), blocks per set (2.62), service aces per set (2.19) and digs per set (20.19).
Individually, the Charger offense is led by senior All-American middle hitter Allyssa Van Wienen, junior outside hitter Karoline Shelton and senior setter Lindsey Mertz.
Shelton leads the league in kills and points, while Mertz leads in assists. Van Wienen ranks second in the conference in hitting percentage and sixth in kills.
After receiving votes last week, Walsh, Findlay and Tiffin move into the Top 25 this week. Walsh at No. 11, Findlay at No. 13 and Tiffin at No. 19. Ohio Dominican moved into the rankings at No. 20, after an impressive 5-0 start to the season for the Panthers. Cedarville also continues to receive votes in the Coaches Poll.
Walsh sits at 4-1 on the season, with their only loss coming to Hillsdale, where they took a set from the Chargers before falling in the next three. Olivia Maczuzak is in the midst of a strong junior campaign currently ranking second in the league in kills per set (4.06) and third in points per set (4.38). The Cavaliers' defense is lead by Grace Lindquist and Amber King, who rank fourth and fifth in the conference in blocks.
Findlay received its highest national billing in program history and is ranked in the AVCA Poll for the first time since breaking through at No. 24 in 2018. The Oilers have won three straight and sit at 5-1. Emily Annesser has been a breakout star for the Oilers currently at third in the league in hitting percentage (.369). Hannah Warrington leads all players in the Great Midwest in total kills (72) and is top 10 in per-set average.
Tiffin, polled second in the league during the preseason poll, hasn't skipped a beat despite the graduation of star Jenna Huffman. The Dragons are tough on the interior led by middle Grace Schreiber (2.85 kills per set, 0.65 blocks per set) and Week 1 Defensive Player of the Week Sam Fallis is over 100 digs while averaging 5.40 per set. Tiffin is winners in four of its first five matches and are locked with Walsh in the current standings
Undefeated Ohio Dominican is thriving under first-year head coach Amy Bambenek and the Panthers certainly are on the verge of earning a postseason bid for the first time since joining the Great Midwest in 2017-18. The Panthers swept conference player of the week honors with Emilee Fecht and Abbi Gillson and have only lost two sets in five matches thus far.
The Panthers are the league's top defensive team, holding opponents to a paltry .062 hitting percentage led by the middle Gillson, who tops all players in blocks per set (1.53). This is ODU's first national ranking in volleyball and represents a quick turnaround in a small window of time with the program picked 11th in this year's preseason coaches poll.