PITTSBURGH, PA –
Oct. 25, 2023 : 4:00 PM
The Kent State Tuscarawas Volleyball Team (15-2) broke into the No.1 spot in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association's (USCAA) DII Week 5 National Coaches Poll on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles have been on the rise this season under the leadership of second-year head coach Cortney Goodwin and have been ranked in the top four since the first coaches poll was released on September 28.
It's the first time since joining the USCAA eight years ago, that a Golden Eagles athletic team has earned the No. 1 ranking. A huge road win at Potomac State College (17-3)---a perennial NJCAA power---vaulted the navy and gold into the lone top spot after splitting the ranking with three other teams just two weeks ago. They also downed NJCAA No. 13 Butler County Community College on the road just after the last poll was released.
The Golden Eagles have surpassed their previous high of regular season wins (12) and have knocked off four teams who trail them in the rankings. KSU Tusc beat now No. 2 Penn State Mont Alto 3-2 on a neutral floor, dispatched No. 3 Cincinnati Clermont in straight sets at home avenging a 3-2 loss to the Cougars in a preseason tournament, and downed No. 4 Penn State Fayette as well as No. 7 Penn State Beaver 3-0 at the USCAA Tip-Off Classic on Beaver's home floor.
Now 15-2 on the season, the Eagles are a lock to better last season's No. 9 finish when they missed a post season invitation by just one point. They have two matches left and will find out their tournament seed on Wednesday, November 1, at 4:30 pm while watching the USCAA National Volleyball Tournament Bid Show on the USCAA Sports Network.
On Saturday, the volleyball team travels to Cincinnati Clermont and will finish their season on the road at Miami University Hamilton on Friday, November 3.
Here's a link to the coaches poll: https://theuscaa.com/Coaches_Poll/2023-24/Fall/Week_5
For inquiries contact:
Rob Brindley, Athletic Director
(330) 308-7447
The Golden Eagles celebrate after a win in the USCAA Tip-Off Classic early in the season.
(Photo by Rob Brindley)