1. MIT (10-1 overall, 10-0 in-region), 100 points, three first place votes

Ranked third in last week's poll, MIT climbed to the top spot after opening up NEWMAC play with victories over WPI (3-1) and former number one Springfield (3-2). A 31-kill effort by junior Megan Gebhard was integral as MIT erased a 2-1 set deficit to Springfield to win five. MIT has four matches on the schedule this week including Mount Holyoke, Simmons, Smith, and Regis.

2. Amherst (7-0 overall, 7-0 in-region), 70 points, four first place votes

Ranked outside the top-five in last week's NEWVA poll, undefeated Amherst has surged to the #2 position after taking down Western New England (3-1) and NESCAC rivals Connecticut College (3-0) and Tufts (3-2). Amherst's win over Tufts in five sets came after the Lord Jeffs trailed 2-0 with back-to-back 25-23 set losses. Amherst travels to Williams before a Saturday tri-match with NEWMAC rivals Clark and Babson.

3. Tufts (4-3 overall, 3-1 in-region), 85 points

In three matches over teams ranked in the first NEWVA regional poll last week, the Jumbos went 2-1 to climb up one spot. Tufts took down Roger Williams (3-0) in straight sets, opened up their NESCAC schedule by taking down Williams on the road (3-1), but gave up a 2-0 lead to Amherst (2-3) and lost in five sets. Tufts hosts Connecticut College then faces tri-match play with Western Connecticut State and UMass Dartmouth on Saturday.

4. Springfield (9-2 overall, 9-2 in-region), 80 points

The Pride handled Coast Guard (3-0) in three sets to run their win streak to five before losing in five sets to MIT (2-3) on the road to go 1-1 in NEWMAC action last week. Springfield falls three spots from #1 to #4 in this week's NEWVA poll but can rebound with key conference matchups with Babson, Smith, and Emerson this week.

5. Williams (5-2 overall, 1-1 in-region), 76 points

Williams stumbled at home against Tufts (1-3) before grinding out a five-set triumph over Connecticut College to go 1-1 in NESCAC action last week. The Ephs dropped from #2 in the NEWVA rankings and take on this week's second-ranked team, Amherst, before heading out-of-region for the UW-Whitewater Invitational.