Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
NVA/AVCA Rankings - Week 10
CCIW Player of the Week Release
Mar. 22, 2022 - The North Central College men's volleyball team moved back into the No. 4 ranking in the latest National Volleyball Association / American Volleyball Coaches Association (NVA/AVCA) Division III National Rankings while
Matt Nealon was recognized as this week's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Week. The CCIW released its selections on Monday while the NVA/AVCA released its rankings on Tuesday.
The Cardinals continue their exceptional season with wins over CCIW foe Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), 3-1 on Friday, and the then, thirteenth-ranked California Lutheran University 3-0 on Monday. North Central's record stands at 16-1 heading into this week's CCIW matches against Augustana College and No. 3 Carthage College.
The CCIW saw three representatives in the national poll with North Central, Carthage, and Loras College. Springfield remains No. 1 with Dominican at No. 2 and Carthage at No. 3. North Central moved back into fourth while Stevens followed in fifth. Southern Virginia and Rutgers-Newark moved up one spot each to rank sixth and seventh, respectively. Vassar dropped from fourth to eighth followed by Stevenson's jump to ninth. Rounding out the top-15 was Wentworth, SUNY New Paltz, Marymount, Cal Lutheran, Juniata, and Loras.
Senior setter, Matt Nealon was selected as the CCIW Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season. Nealon played a crucial role in the Cardinals' four-set win over Illinois Wesleyan on Friday totaling 45 set assists to sit third for assists in a four-set match in program history and is one shy of his season's best. Nealon currently ranks fourth in the nation for set assists. Nealon also picked up seven digs and two blocks against IWU.
The Cardinals head to Rock Island, Ill. on Wednesday for a CCIW match against the Augustana College Vikings. Match time inside the Carver Center is set for 7 p.m.
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