LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A clear-cut top two headlines this week’s NFCA Division III Top 25, with top-ranked Texas-Tyler in the same spot it’s been all season and Emory the unanimous choice at No. 2 for the third straight week.
The (23-2) Patriots continue to roll through the division, topping the poll for the sixth consecutive week, and fifth time unanimously, following a three-game American Southwest Conference sweep of Texas-Dallas, and the (31-1) Eagles went 6-0 this past week to strengthen their hold on second. Meanwhile, a 4-0 week leapfrogged Texas Lutheran (24-1) past Christopher Newport (17-2), which went 3-1, including a home split with No. 9 Salisbury (17-4).
Prior to starting its three-game conference series with Texas-Tyler, East Texas Baptist (21-4) maintained its No. 5 spot, while Washington University (20-4) and Luther (18-1) remained in sixth and seventh, respectively.
Virginia Wesleyan (17-4), Salisbury and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (20-5-1) round out the top 10.
Three-time defending national champion Tufts (7-4) got on track following a late season debut, going 6-2, but slipped one place to a tie for No. 23 with St. Thomas (11-3), which went 6-0 to return to the top 25 after receiving votes last week.
Wheaton (Mass.) returns to the rankings, while the University of Chicago and Williams are newcomers in the receiving votes section. Lake Forest, Linfield, Ramapo, William Paterson, Wis.-Eau Claire, Wis.-Oshkosh, Wittenberg and Worcester Polytechnic Institute all dropped out this week.
The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Records through Sunday’s games are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.
NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll – March 30, 2016
Others receiving votes: Simpson 11, Wheaton (Mass.) 7, Cortland 6, University of Chicago 4 and Williams 2.
Dropped out: Lake Forest, Linfield, Ramapo, William Paterson, Wis.-Eau Claire, Wis.-Oshkosh, Wittenberg and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.