![St. Thomas’ Challenge to Defend UMLC Crown](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="300" height="286"><rect width="100%" height="100%"><animate attributeName="fill" values="rgba(153,153,153,0.5);rgba(153,153,153,0.1);rgba(153,153,153,0.5)" dur="2s" repeatCount="indefinite" /></rect></svg>)
As expected, the top six teams in the Under Armour MCLA Division II Weekly Coaches Poll will make their way to Mahtomedi, Minn., for the UMLC tournament.
Can top-ranked St. Thomas (10-1) defend its conference crown against five of the top teams in the country?
We’ll find out.
No. 7 Northern Arizona (10-1) checks in at No. 7 as it gets ready for the SLC tournament while No. 8 Montana State (9-2) and No. 9 Sierra Nevada (6-4) still have a week left in the regular season.
No. 10 Kennesaw State (6-4) enters the SELC tournament with the highest national ranking along with a top seed in the six-team tournament.
Baylor (9-2) was bumped out of this week’s poll to make way for UC San Diego (9-1), which is making its first appearance in the poll.
Under Armour MCLA Division II Coaches Poll – Week 9
Rank – Team – Points – 1st votes
1. St. Thomas 450 18
2. North Dakota State 428
3. Grand Valley State 400
4. Minn.-Duluth 394
5. St. John’s 383
6. Dayton 337
7. Northern Arizona 329
8. Montana State 323
9. Sierra Nevada 308
10. Kennesaw State 303
11. Florida Gulf Coast 281
12. Montana 246
13. Cal State San Marcos 212
14. Missouri State 190
15. Cal State Fullerton 175
16. San Diego 126
17t. Wake Forest 118
17t. Bridgewater State 118
19. College of Idaho 116
20. UC Davis 112
21. UC San Diego 86
22. Colorado Denver 81
23. North Florida 78
24t. Central Conn. State 74
24t. UC Santa Cruz 74
Also receiving votes: Baylor (55), MSU Denver (19), Colorado Mines (13), Rice (9), Northern Colorado (9), Providence (2), Louisiana (1).
