LCSC women’s volleyball team cracks NAIA Top 25 rankings

10-24-07

The Lewis-Clark State College women’s volleyball team continued its amazing season ride on Wednesday when it was ranked No. 23 in this week’s NAIA poll. 

The ranking is the first for the program since the 2001 season when the Warriors closed out the regular season ranked No. 16. 

LCSC, 14-5 overall, received votes in the poll last week and was the only new team to join the rankings this week. The Warriors received 57 points in the poll, four behind No. 22 Taylor of Indiana, and six ahead of No. 24 Campbellsville of Kentucky. 

“We're very excited that we have been recognized nationally,” LCSC coach Jen Greeny said.  “We are still in the building process and are working hard everyday to make this program better.  The players deserve this recognition are doing a great job.” 

The ranking is another accomplishment for the program and Greeny, who is in her first year as coach. The Warriors were 8-19 last season and were picked to finish sixth in the conference’s preseason poll. The Warriors, however, have swept Westminster and also defeated Great Falls, both picked as the co-favorites to win the league. With four matches remaining, LCSC controls its destiny and would capture the conference title if it wins out.

The Warriors began last week with a non-league loss to then-No. 8 College of Idaho, but defeated then-No. 11 Westminster on the road to move up in the rankings. Westminster, which is in a three-way tie for first place in the Frontier Conference standings with LCSC and Montana Tech, fell to No. 25 in the poll, while College of Idaho, which lost to Southern Oregon, fell to No. 10. Southern Oregon moved from No. 20 to No. 14. 

Region II schools dominate the poll with four teams holding down the top four spots. Fresno Pacific, at 23-0, is the unanimous No. 1 choice, while California Baptist (19-3), Concordia of California (20-3) and Biola (19-4) round out the top four, respectively. 

LCSC continues play this week with its final two home games. On Friday, the Warriors play host to Rocky Mountain at 7 p.m., and then on Sunday, LCSC faces Carroll College at noon on Senior Day. The Warriors’ two seniors, Brittney Kubik and Marie Balmer, will be honored that day.