INDIANPOLIS – Despite losing three consecutive matches, Carson-Newman is in the first batch of NCAA region rankings released Wednesday afternoon coming in at 10th looking to make a return trip to the postseason.
The top eight teams make the NCAA Division II Playoffs with an automatic qualifier coming from the South Atlantic Conference, the Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas. The No. 1 team in the region will host the eight teams for three straight days from Nov. 16-18. The winner of the region will advance to the NCAA National Championships from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
On the year, the Eagles have played 10 matches against teams ranked in the top 10 posting a 3-7 record against those schools. C-N has wins over three of the top five teams beating Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne at home with a road victory over Augusta. Dave Franklin's unit has five matches remaining in the regular as the final three come against clubs above them in the poll, sixth-ranked LMU, fifth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne and ninth-ranked Mars Hill.
The last unbeaten in the nation, Wingate, is atop the table with a flawless 23-0 record on the season as it would take a big collapse for the Bulldogs to not remain the best team in the region. Coach Shelton Collier's team has won 32 straight home matches.
The leaders of the Peach Belt, USC Aiken, is second in the region holding a two-game lead in the standings over third-ranked Augusta.
A trio of SAC schools file the fourth through sixth slots. Anderson and Lincoln Memorial get one more crack at Wingate in the regular season The Trojans have a three-match lead on the Railsplitters in the league standings and are four spots up on Lenoir-Rhyne.
Lander is third in the Peach Belt standings and edged out Georgia College for the seventh slot. The Bobcats swept the season series with Augusta and have wins over Lander, and LMU on their resume.
Mars Hill was rallies away from pulling an upset at home against Wingate on Oct. 13 in straight sets but the Lions are scuffling having not won a set since losing five straight matches and 15 consecutive sets
Conference Carolinas does not have a team in the top 10 but will receive a bid from its conference tournament champion and be seeded eighth.
The next batch of regional rankings will be released on Oct. 31 with the selection show available on Monday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
|
Rank |
School |
Record |
|
1 |
Wingate |
21-0 |
|
2 |
USC Aiken |
16-3 |
|
3 |
Augusta |
18-5 |
|
4 |
Anderson |
23-3 |
|
5 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
16-7 |
|
6 |
Lincoln Memorial |
14-7 |
|
7 |
Lander |
19-5 |
|
8 |
Georgia College |
11-9 |
|
9 |
Mars Hill |
14-9 |
|
10 |
Carson-Newman |
11-10 |
- CN -
