PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) A four-game win streak to wrap up the 2021 regular season was enough for Colorado Mesa to solidify its spot atop the NCBWA Division II Top 25 on Wednesday, as the Mavericks hauled in 18 of a possible 19 first-place votes to retain its No. 1 ranking for the seventh-straight week.
With a regular season championship in hand after posting a 34-2 mark against league opponents, the top-seeded Mavericks opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament play on Wednesday afternoon. Central Missouri, who picked up the lone remaining first-place vote in Wednesday's poll, is scheduled to continue play in the semifinal round of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association on Thursday in nearby Joplin, Mo. The Mules were equally impressive in league play this season with a 30-3 mark against MIAA foes.
Lindenwood (Mo.), who held the top spot in the NCBWA Division II Top 25 in Week 7 (March 31), was the biggest mover in this week's poll as it jumped four spots to No. 7 after it secured the automatic bid to the NCAA Midwest Regional with an 8-6 victory over then-No. 5 Illinois Springfield in the championship game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The Lions will ride an eight-game win streak into the NCAA postseason.
Two teams re-entered the national ranking after short hiatuses, including Millersville who checked into the No. 21 spot after splitting its first two games in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament. Trevecca Nazarene (No. 23) is back in the top 25 after a two-week absence thanks to an unblemished run through the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament.
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