LEXINGTON, Ky. — After four wins in Golden, Colo., including a four-set victory against then No. 11-ranked Colorado School of Mines, the Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team jumped nine spots to No. 13 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Poll released on Monday afternoon.
 
SMSU is one of six NSIC schools ranked in the AVCA Top 25 with Concordia-St. Paul leading the way at the No. 6 spot, St. Cloud State placing at the No. 8 spot ahead of the Mustangs. Wayne State sits at No. 15, Minnesota Duluth moved into the rankings at No. 21, and Winona State rounds out the rankings at No. 25.   
 
Colorado Mesa, who the Mustangs defeated in five sets on Saturday morning, entered the rankings at No. 24, while Mines moved back three spots to No. 14. 
 
SMSU, who has opened the season 4-0 for the second consecutive season, has now been ranked in the Top 25 for 202 of the last 203 rankings, dating back to Sept. 5, 2006.
 
Tyler Boddy is the second coach in program history to begin their career with four straight victories, with Terry Culhane's six straight victories to open 2004 the record for most wins to begin a career.
 
The Mustangs head to Missouri for four games in the Drury/Southwest Baptist Classic, beginning with Missouri Western State on Friday, Sept. 2, at 1:30 p.m. SMSU begins its 20-match NSIC season with its home-opener on Friday, Sept. 9, versus Winona State.