BEVERLY, Mass. - September 13, 2022 - For the first NEWVA coaches poll of the 2022 season, the Cardinals of Wesleyan (Conn.) have earned the top spot, garnering nine of 12 possible first place votes. Currently ranked No. 17 in the most recent AVCA DIII Coaches Poll, Wesleyan is currently 4-0 on the young season, having gone 12-1 in sets played.

The second NEWVA regional poll will be released on Tuesday, September 20.

NEWVA REGIONAL POLL NO. 1

1. No. 17 Wesleyan (4-0, 0-0 NESCAC) | 175 points | 9 first place vote
2. No. 19 Tufts (3-1, 0-0 NESCAC) | 159 points | 1 first place vote
3. Endicott (5-0, 0-0 CCC) | 156 points | 1 first place vote
4. No. 23 Babson (6-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 152 points
5. No. 18 MIT (6-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 132 points | 1 first place vote
6. Springfield (5-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 116 points
7. Emerson (5-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 113 points
8. Middlebury (3-1, 0-0 NESCAC) | 87 points
9. Coast Guard (7-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 79 points
10. Hamilton (4-0, 0-0 NESCAC) | 59 points
11. Brandeis (4-1, 0-0 UAA) | 50 points
12. Bowdoin (2-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 44 points
13. Smith (5-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 32 points
14. Bates (3-1, 0-0 NESCAC) | 26 points
15. Wheaton (4-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) | 22 points

Also receiving votes: Williams, Rivier, Amherst, Eastern Nazarene, Suffolk
(Order between tied teams based off first place votes. Teams receiving votes must appear on two ballots or more, and must be above .500 overall)

THE TOP FIVE

1. No. 17 Wesleyan (4-0, 0-0 NESCAC) | 175 points | 9 first place vote

Wesleyan is currently 4-0 overall including a win oer then No. 22 Southwestern (3-1). The Cardinals swept Coast Guard, Roger Williams and Aurora.

2. No. 19 Tufts (3-1, 0-0 NESCAC) | 159 points | 1 first place vote

The Jumbos started the season going 3-0 with wins over Eastern Connecticut St., Cal Lutheran and UT Dallas before being tripped upt by No. 20 Washington-St. Louis 3-1.

3. Endicott (5-0, 0-0 CCC) | 156 points | 1 first place vote

The Gulls are off to a 5-0 start with wins over then No. 10 MIT (3-1), and Bowdoin (3-1), in addition to WPI, Simmons and Keene St.

4. Babson (11-1, 3-1 NEWMAC) | 152 points 

The Beavers are 6-1 on the season, having only lost to now No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-0). Their wins consist of Cal Lutheran, Whittier, Pomona-Pitzer, Bates, RIT and JWU (R.I.).

5. No. 18 (AVCA) MIT (7-1, 1-0 NEWMAC) | 132 points | 1 first place vote

The Engineers have won six matches on the year, all via 3-0 sweeps, including a sweep of Bowdoin on Saturday. The lone loss for MIT came at the hands of NEWVA No. 3 Endicott, 3-1.

UNDEFEATED TEAMS*

No 1. Wesleyan (4-0)
No. 3 Endicott (5-0)
No. 7 Emerson (5-0)
No. 10 Hamilton (4-0)

* Rankings are the most recent NEWVA Regional rankings

CONFERENCE LEADERS IN THE POLL

Commonwealth Coast Conference
No. 3 Endicott

Great Northeast Athletic Conference
N/A

Little East Conference
N/A

Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference
N/A

North Atlantic Conference
N/A

New England Collegiate Conference
N/A

New England Small College Athletic Conference
No. 1 Wesleyan, No. 2 Tufts, No. 8 Middlebury, No. 10 Hamilton, No. 12 Bowdoin, No. 14 Bates

New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
No. 4 Babson, No. 5 MIT, No. 6 Springfield, No. 7 Emerson, No. 9 Coast Guard, No. 13 Smith, No. 15 Wheaton

UAA

No. 11 Brandeis

*Photo Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletic Communications