The Missouri Western volleyball team sits in eighth in the first edition of the 2014 Central Region poll. The top-8 teams will make the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Missouri Western is on a record breaking pace, winning its most MIAA contests since 1995 and most overall victories since the 2000 season. The Griffons 18 wins against regional opponents rank third in the region.

Three of Missouri Westenr’s five losses this season have come to opponents currently ranked above them in the regional rankings: Central Missouri (4), Nebraska-Kearney (6) and Augustana (7).

While the top-8 teams make the regional tournament, no Great American Conference team is currently ranked in the top-10, but the conference champion will receive an automatic bid. Should the GAC champion not be ranked in the top-8, they would bump a ranked team out of the tournament.

Missouri Western will have chances to improve its regional ranking with a home match against sixth ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 8 and a chance for redemption on the road at Central Missouri on Nov. 14 in the team’s final regular season contest.

The Griffons will look to match the most MIAA wins in school history (14) on Friday when they travel to Southwest Baptist.

Regional Record    Overall Record
1    Minnesota Duluth    19-0    22-1
2    Concordia-St. Paul    15-2    20-3
3    Southwest Minnesota State    12-5    16-7
4    Central Missouri    15-3    15-8
5    Wayne State (NE)    18-4    20-4
6    Nebraska- Kearney    21-2    21-2
7    Augustana (SD)    14-8    15-8
8    Missouri Western State    18-5    18-5
9    Washburn    18-4    18-4
10    Winona State    14-5    15-6

— MWSU Sports Information —