NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's
late-season volleyball momentum continued Thursday when it earned its highest-ever
national ranking in the final NAIA coaches poll of 2019.
The Gold Nuggets (31-9) were among "others receiving votes"
and in 29th place with 33 points. It was the fourth consecutive poll that XULA received votes.
Prior to November, XULA volleyball never had earned points
in a national poll. The Gold Nuggets tied for 36th place with three points
Nov. 6, were 35th with seven points Nov. 13 and were 32nd with 17 points Nov. 18.
XULA made its biggest-ever national impact by winning
an opening-round match against William Carey in the NAIA National Championship
to qualify for pool play with 31 other teams in Sioux City, Iowa. The Gold Nuggets
lost all three of their matches in Pool H but took Jamestown and Columbia (Mo.)
to four sets apiece. Jamestown finished fourth and Columbia 18th in the final poll.
The top team in Pool H, Westmont, earned a No. 2 final ranking
after losing 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 to Marian (Ind.) in the national championship match.
XULA's top eight in kills in 2019 were juniors or freshmen,
and the Gold Nuggets' leaders in assists, digs, aces and blocks were juniors.
2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through end of season Dec. 7)
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
Points |
Last |
| 1 |
Marian (Ind.) (19) |
38-2 |
529 |
11 |
| 2 |
Westmont |
29-7 |
512 |
RV |
| 3 |
Viterbo |
35-7 |
488 |
6 |
| 4 |
Jamestown |
33-6 |
485 |
8 |
| 5 |
Park (Mo.) |
32-4 |
447 |
1 |
| 6 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
32-2 |
441 |
2 |
| 7 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
37-3 |
435 |
3 |
| 8 |
Missouri Baptist |
34-7 |
412 |
4 |
| 9 |
Southern Oregon |
31-5 |
386 |
5 |
| 10 |
Central Methodist |
33-4 |
371 |
12 |
| 11 |
Lindsey Wilson |
32-6 |
358 |
10 |
| 12 |
Grand View |
30-11 |
340 |
13 |
| 13 |
Eastern Oregon |
31-5 |
334 |
7 |
| 14 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
25-8 |
297 |
15 |
| 15 |
Corban |
22-10 |
283 |
14 |
| 16 |
Oklahoma City |
34-4 |
282 |
16 |
| 17 |
Montana Tech |
27-8 |
256 |
19 |
| 18 |
Columbia (Mo.) |
29-6 |
243 |
9 |
| 19 |
Bellevue |
28-10 |
217 |
23 |
| 20 |
Providence (Mont.) |
25-8 |
205 |
17 |
| 21 |
Lawrence Tech |
32-4 |
175 |
18 |
| 22 |
Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) |
29-7 |
171 |
21 |
| 23 |
Saint Mary (Neb.) |
25-17 |
139 |
20 |
| 24 |
Texas Wesleyan |
26-10 |
122 |
NR |
| 25 |
Reinhardt |
33-5 |
121 |
24 |
Dropped from rankings: No. 22 Dakota State, No. 25 Midland
Others receiving votes: Madonna 114, Midland 68, Ottawa (Kan.) 59,
XULA 33,
IU Kokomo 26, Menlo 26, Saint Francis (Ind.) 18, Dordt 16, Martin Methodist 15,
Trinity Christian 9, Dakota State 7, Saint Mary (Kan.) 6
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