NEW LONDON, N.H. - November 8, 2012 - Middlebury College has earned the top spot in ninth NEWVA Poll. The Panters (22-6 overall, 17-5 in region) move up five spots after winning the 2012 NESCAC Tournament.
#1 Middlebury College was the second seed in the NESCAC tournament. The Panters bested Trinity College 3-0 in the opening round before knocking off defending NESCAC champion Bowdoin College to adavance to the finals. In the finals, Middlebury squared off versus the number one seeded Camels of Connecticut College. The Panters posted an impressive three-set win to capture their fourth NESCAC title. Middlebury earned the NESCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will be the number two seed in the New York Region. The Panters sqaure off versus Southern Vermont College.
#4 MIT moved up three spots in the poll after an impressive run to the NEWMAC Tournament Title. The Engineers (30-5 overall, 26-4 in-region) were the third seed in the NEWMAC tournament. They opened the tournament with 3-1 over Babson College before upending defending NEWMAC Champion Springfield College. In the final, the Engineers posted a 3-0 win over Wellesley College. MIT earned the NEWMAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will face the winner of the Little East Conference Tournament UMass Boston.