Crossroads League in the NAIA National Polls | January 22-28
KANSAS CITY – The NAIA released a new batch of Top-25 Polls this week for the sports of basketball and tennis. The Crossroads League placed 15 teams in those four polls and currently boasts a total of 36 teams ranked or receiving votes.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (Announced on January 23 – Next Poll on February 6)
No. 5 Marian (21-2, 10-1 CL) did not change position in the poll and picked up 272 points. MU is in the midst of a season-best nine-game win streak and will play at No. 15 Taylor on Saturday, before hosting No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday.
No. 15 Taylor (16-7, 9-2 CL) jumped seven spots in the latest Top-25, hauling in 161 points. The Trojans have won a season-high five-straight contests and will host No. 5 Marian on Saturday, before traveling to RV Saint Francis on Wednesday.
No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan (17-6, 9-2 CL) garnered 131 points and fell seven spots after dropping back-to-back games. IWU has bounced back with three-straight wins and will host Bethel, before traveling to No. 5 Marian on January 31.
RV Saint Francis (14-9, 6-5 CL) continued to receive votes in the rankings, pulling in 60 points to miss a Top-25 spot by one position. USF will play its next two at home against MVNU and No. 15 Taylor.
RV Huntington (14-8, 7-4 CL) jumped into the poll with seven points on the strength of wins in five of its last six outings. The Foresters will host Spring Arbor and Grace in their next two, before closing with No. 20 IWU, RV USF, No. 5 Marian and No. 15 Taylor.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (Announced on January 23 – Next Poll on February 6)
No. 3 Saint Francis (19-4, 9-2 CL) dipped one spot but remained inside the top-three in the latest poll. USF hauled in 268 points, just eight shy of top-rated Cornerstone. The Cougars will host RV MVNU and Taylor in their next two contests.
No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan (17-6, 8-3 CL) also was bumped down one position in the new ratings, with 217 points. The Wildcats have bounced back from a brief slide over the holidays to win five-of-six and will host No. 13 Bethel, before traveling to Marian.
No. 13 Bethel (17-6, 6-5 CL) earned 174 points and was lowered two positions in the poll. BC has dropped three-straight games and four-of-six and will face No. 8 IWU and Goshen in its next two.
No. 14 Spring Arbor (18-5, 6-5 CL) came in right behind the Pilots with 159 points for a one-spot fall in the rankings. SAU has dropped three-of-five outings and will face Huntington and RV MVNU over the next week.
RV Mount Vernon Nazarene (14-9, 6-5 CL) climbed into the polls with nine points but has lost two-straight. MVNU plays at No. 3 USF on Saturday, before hosting No. 14 SAU on Tuesday.
WOMEN’S TENNIS (Announced on January 23 – Next Poll on February 13)
No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan (14-0, 9-0 CL) picked up 302 points in the preseason poll, after going unbeaten during its fall schedule. IWU will begin spring play on February 16 at No. 19 Olivet Nazarene.
RV Huntington (14-3, 7-2 CL) gained 54 points in the preseason rankings, missing a spot in the Top-25 by 12 points after advancing to the Crossroads League Tournament Finals in the fall.
RV Marian (9-2, 8-1 CL) also earned a spot in the poll with 10 points. The Knights will open their spring schedule in Hilton Head, South Carolina on March 3.
MEN’S TENNIS (Announced on January 23 – Next Poll on February 13)
RV Indiana Wesleyan (15-0, 9-0 CL) picked up 52 points as the first team outside the Top-25 on the heels on an unblemished fall campaign. IWU will play at No. 23 Olivet Nazarene when it opens its spring slate on February 16.
RV Marian (10-3, 7-2 CL) claimed 19 points in the poll. MU will open its spring schedule on March 3 in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
CROSSROADS LEAGUE IN ADDITIONAL TOP-25 POLLS
BASEBALL (Announced on November 7 – Next Poll on March 6)
RV Huntington
WOMEN’S GOLF (Announced on November 3 – Next Poll on March 9)
No. 16 Taylor
No. 25 Bethel
RV Marian
RV Indiana Wesleyan
MEN’S GOLF (Announced on November 3 – Next Poll on March 9)
No. 15 Taylor
RV Indiana Wesleyan
SOFTBALL (Announced on January 16 – Next Poll on March 13)
No. 4 Marian
No. 10 Indiana Wesleyan
RV Taylor
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Final Poll)
No. 5 Taylor
No. 21 Indiana Wesleyan
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Final Poll)
No. 14 Indiana Wesleyan
No. 17 Taylor
WOMEN’S SOCCER (Final Poll)
No. 1 Spring Arbor
No. 11 Marian
RV Indiana Wesleyan
MEN’S SOCCER (Final Poll)
RV Grace
RV Spring Arbor
VOLLEYBALL (Final Poll)
No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan
RV Marian
