MIVA sets conference record holding top two spots in new poll

The rise of the MIVA continues.

The MIVA for the first time in its conference’s 54-year history had two teams finish atop the national rankings with the new AVCA coaches poll released Monday.


The defending-NCAA champions Loyola received all but one first-place vote to remain at No. 1 for the second straight week. In addition, Lewis following two non-conference victories last week jumped up three spots to No. 2.

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Both the Ramblers and Flyers have multiple victories against nationally ranked teams in the first two weeks of the season.

Loyola is on a nation-best 30-match winning streak dating back to last season, including season-opening non-conference victories against then-No. 6 BYU and then-No. 10 Stanford. Lewis, which reached the six-team NCAA Tournament last season as an at-large bid, also is the only team so far this season to beat No. 3 UC Irvine.

The MIVA is the second college men’s volleyball conference to hold the top-two spots in the national coaches poll. The MPSF has routinely held the No. 1 and No. 2 rankings since the poll started in 1986.

UC Irvine, BYU and USC round-out the top-five of this week’s poll. The Trojans were also the only team besides the Ramblers to earn a first-place vote.

Along with Loyola and Lewis, three other MIVA schools were ranked in the new poll.

IPFW jumped up two spots to No. 11, while Ohio State moved one spot to No. 13. In addition, Ball State moved into the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 14.