No. 12 Lewis ranked first in initial NCAA Midwest Region volleyball poll

Lewis Athletics
Luke Rinne, Director of Athletic Communications

ROMEOVILLLE, Ill. – Lewis University’s 12th ranked women’s volleyball team earned the top spot in the first NCAA Midwest Regional rankings released by the NCAA on Wednesday afternoon. The top eight teams in the final regional rankings will earn a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Midwest Region is comprised of teams from the GLVC, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Association (GLIAC) and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC).

The Flyers head out on the road this weekend to play their final two road contests of the regular season. They’ll play GLVC newcomer Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo., on Friday at 7 p.m. and then will head down to Springfield, Mo., on Saturday to take on Drury at 3 p.m.

We’re No. 1 – Lewis is the top ranked team in the first of three NCAA Midwest Regional rankings. The Flyers check in ahead of Hillsdale who is second and Missouri-St. Louis is third. The GLVC has five teams ranked in this week’s top 10. The complete rankings can be found at the bottom of the page or by clicking the above link.

Last Time Out – Lewis bounced back with a straight set win at McKendree last Saturday. The Flyers had three players reach double figures in kills led by Colleen Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) with 13 while Ava Venema (Westmont, Ill./Timothy Christian) and Juliana Van Loo (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) had 10 kills each. Lewis hit .293 for the match while holding the Bearcats to a .100 attack percentage.

About Southwest Baptist – The Bearcats are 4-23 on the season, 0-11 in the GLVC and have lost five straight heading into Friday’s match. Last weekend SBU was swept at Missouri S&T and Maryville. The ‘Cats are hitting .149 as a team and are led by Rebecca Rabius who is averaging 3.02 kills per set.

About Drury – The Panthers had their 10-match GLVC winning streak snapped in a four-set loss at Missouri S&T last Saturday. Drury is 16-12 overall but is 10-1 in the GLVC and holds the top spot in the conference standings. The Panthers have been really good at home this season winning eight of 10 contests.

Series History vs. SBU – Friday’s contest marks the first all-time meeting between Lewis and Southwest Baptist.

Series History vs. Drury – The Flyers are 16-2 all-time in the series against the Panthers. Lewis had its 15-match winning streak in the series snapped in a five-set loss in Springfield last season. The Flyers avenged that loss defeating Drury in four sets in the semifinal round at the NCAA Midwest Regional.