TAMUC – Sports

Lions ranked No. 21 in AVCA poll heading into the conference season.·          

COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team is the No. 21 ranked team in the nation, according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association coaches poll as announced Monday. Dating back to last season the Lions are nationally ranked in 15 consecutive polls. 

The Lions are coming off of a 2-2 weekend at the Colorado Premier Challenge. A&M-Commerce defeated Tampa in their first match, the former No. 1 team in the AVCA poll. The Lions also defeated West Florida, who is receiving votes in the coaches’ poll. The Lions also played matches against Regis and Central Missouri, and both nationally ranked in this week’s poll. 

The No. 21 Lions will play their first home game of the season on Friday, as they open up Lone Star Conference play against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The match will be at 6:00 pm at the Field House. The Lions will then host Texas A&M International on Saturday at 2:00 pm. 

Season tickets for all 12 Lion Volleyball home matches can are at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office inside the Field House during business hours. 

2019 AVCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll – Sept. 16 (Week 2)

Rk	Name (First Place)	Pts.	Record	Prev.
1	Cal State San Bernardino (35)	1137	7-0	2
2	Western Washington (6)	1092	8-0	3
3	Washburn (3)	1062	8-0	4
4	Minnesota Duluth (1)	955	7-1	5
5	Lewis	891	7-1	5
T6	Concordia-St. Paul	870	6-2	10
T6	Nebraska-Kearney	870	8-0	8
8	Northern State	780	7-1	7
9	Southwest Minnesota State	744	6-2	15
10	Ferris State	640	6-2	11
11	Tarleton State	614	5-3	9
12	Central Missouri	538	5-3	12
13	Tampa	507	4-4	1
14	Hillsdale	491	7-1	19
15	NW Missouri State	409	7-1	18
16	Barry	379	5-3	13
17	Rockhurst	361	5-3	17
18	Regis	301	6-2	NR
19	St. Cloud State	292	8-0	NR
20	Wayne State (Neb.)	265	8-0	22
21	A&M-COMMERCE	222	5-3	20
22	Wheeling	210	5-3	14
23	Palm Beach Atlantic	180	5-3	16
24	Sioux Falls	165	8-0	NR
T25	Upper Iowa	142	8-0	NR
T25	Wingate	142	7-0	24

 

Lions hold at 12th in AFCA Coaches’ Poll after the win at WOU.

WACO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team held steady at No. 12 in the national ranking. It was in the second regular-season release of the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the AFCA on Monday. 

The Lions moved to 2-0 on the season with a 34-27 road win at Western Oregon. E.J. Thompson (Cy-Ranch) had three rushing touchdowns, while Miklo Smalls (Plano – East) had a highlight touchdown pass to Chance Cooper (Leander – Rouse).

Five A&M-Commerce opponents in 2019 are ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. Tarleton moved up to No. 4, Colorado State-Pueblo held steady at No. 9, and Midwestern State stayed at 16th. West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico are receiving votes. The Lions are the fourth-highest ranked team in Super Region Four. 

A&M-Commerce has been ranked in 55 consecutive AFCA polls, dating back to the 2015 preseason poll. It is A&M-Commerce’s 61st all-time appearance in the AFCA poll since its inception in 2000. 

In the polls recognized by Division II as the top rating system, the Lions have been known as a nationally ranked team 110 times since joining Division II in 1981.

A&M-Commerce hosts CommUniverCity Day and Family Weekend on Saturday, September 21, when the Lions host Eastern New Mexico for a 6 p.m. kickoff in the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams. Tickets for the game are available at the box office, online at WeAreLionsTix.com, or by calling (903) 468-8756.

2019 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll

Rank	School’s (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.
1.	Valdosta St. (Ga.) (31)	2-0	799	1
2.	Ferris St. (Mich.) (1)	2-0	768	2
3.	Minnesota St.	2-0	730	3
4.	Tarleton (Texas)	2-0	678	5
5.	Notre Dame (Ohio)	2-0	649	4
6.	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	2-0	637	6
7.	Northwest Missouri St.	2-0	614	7
8.	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	2-0	571	8
9.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	2-0	541	9
10.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	2-0	505	10
11.	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	2-0	465	11
12.	A&M-COMMERCE	2-0	415	12
13.	Minnesota-Duluth	2-0	401	13
14.	Indianapolis (Ind.)	2-0	378	15
15.	West Georgia	2-0	376	14
16.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	2-0	313	16
17.	Colorado School of Mines	2-0	293	17
18.	West Chester (Pa.)	2-0	218	19
19.	Wingate (N.C.)	2-0	214	18
20.	West Alabama	2-0	190	20
21.	Central Missouri	2-0	164	21
22.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	2-0	136	23
23.	Harding (Ark.)	1-1	84	22
24.	Indiana (Pa.)	2-0	81	24
25.	Bowie St. (Md.)	2-0	38	NR

Dropped Out: Fort Hays St. (Kan.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: West Texas A&M, 31; Ashland (Ohio), 25; Florida Tech, 14; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 10; Kutztown (Pa.), 10; St. Cloud State (Minn.), 8; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 7; Eastern New Mexico, 5; Shepherd (W.Va.), 5; Colorado Mesa, 4; Southern Arkansas, 4; Virginia Union, 4; California (Pa.), 3; Missouri S&T, 3; Missouri Western St., 2; Truman St. (Mo.), 2; West Florida, 2; Fairmont St. (W.Va.), 1; Henderson St. (Ark.), 1; Ohio Dominican, 1.

 

 

Josh Manck

Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications | Texas A&M University-Commerce

Committed to a “Best in Class” student-athlete experience

Office: 903.886.5131 Mobile: 817.487.5136

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3011 | Commerce, TX 75429

Physical Address: 2600 Neal Street, Commerce, TX 75429

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Marcus Jensen

Director of Athletic Communications | Texas A&M University-Commerce

Office: 903.468.3027 | Mobile: 801.624.8529

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