Barton surges in latest Division II coaches poll

Jonathan Bates | Off the Block associate editor

Fresh off three victories at the Grow the Game Challenge, the Barton Bulldogs made the largest jump in this week’s Off the Block/Springbak Division II National Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. Barton jumped from the No. 4 spot last week to the No. 2 spot, and even garnered a first-place vote.

No. 1 Lewis received 12 of the 13 votes this week. Last Friday, the Flyers swept No. 4 UC San Diego, as they held the Tritons to a season-low .011 attack percentage. On Saturday, Lewis lost to Pepperdine in four games, even though they out-blocked the Waves (14 to 5). Individually last weekend, Lewis was led by Ryan Coenen’s 30 blocks and Michael Simmons’ 28 digs. This coming weekend, the Flyers travel to UC Santa Barbara and CSUN.

No. 2 Barton won the Grow the Game Challenge in Lebanon, TN, after defeating Grand Canyon, USC, and Quincy. The Bulldogs had three players make the all-tournament team, including MVP Vasilis Mandilaris. His brother was named Off the Block National Opposite of the Week yesterday. Angelos had 45 kills, 19 digs, and 12 blocks, while his brother had 40 kills, 13 digs, and six blocks. Barton starts conference play this weekend, hosting both Emmanuel and Erskine.

No. 3 Concordia-Irvine swept all three matches last week, including a match against defending Division III national champion, Springfield. Opposite Luke Krzmarzick had 20 kills while outside attacker Jordan Hoppe had 16 kills in two matches each last week. The Eagles travel down the street to play a non-conference match at UC Irvine on Friday.

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No. 4 UC San Diego was swept in both matches this weekend against the Chicago schools. Triton libero Ryan Lew had nine digs each in both matches. This coming weekend, UC San Diego welcomes a pair of MPSF foes to RIMAC Arena – UCLA and Grand Canyon. These two matches are part of a six-match homestand, and the first home matches for the Tritons this season.

No. 5 Lincoln Memorial makes their 2019 debut in the Division II coaches poll. This past weekend, the Railsplitters went 1-2 at the Grow the Game Challenge in Lebanon, TN. Opposite Evan Cory was named to the all-tournament team, while middle attacker Pedro Carvalho was named the Off the Block National Middle Attacker of the Week. Cory tallied 43 kills, 14 digs, and 12 blocks in three matches this weekend. Carvalho attacked at a .457 rate this weekend, while amassing an impressive 22 blocks. This Saturday, the Railsplitters travel to Charlotte, NC for a match against fellow independent, Queens.

Also receiving votes this week are McKendree, Charleston, Lindenwood, Emmanuel, and Coker.

Both NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II men’s volleyball programs compete for the same national championship. The AVCA National Coaches Poll ranks the top 15 Division I-II men’s volleyball teams and is released each Monday during the regular season.

A national voting committee comprised of coaches from the more than 20 Division II teams determines the weekly rankings for the Division II National Coaches Poll.

Off the Block is a website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.

The Division II National Coaches Poll will be released on the Off the Block website every Tuesday during the regular season.

Off the Block Division II Coaches Poll

RankTeamRecordPointsPreviousTrend
1Lewis5-264 (12)1
2Barton3-252. (1)4+2
3Concordia-Irvine3-6253
4UC San Diego2-4212-2
5Lincoln Memorial4-29RV

Others receiving votes: McKendree 7, Charleston 7, Lindenwood 5, Emmanuel 4, Coker 1