FHSU Sports Information Department
Fort Hays State remained No. 3 in the latest WBCA Division II Poll, released on Tuesday (Jan. 19). The Tigers hold the No. 3 ranking for the third straight week and they prepare for another road swing in the MIAA, including a meeting with No. 5 ranked Missouri Western on Thursday (Jan. 21).
The Tigers enter the week on a six-game win streak. Fort Hays State remains the highest ranked team from the MIAA, but Missouri Western leapt five more spots in the polls this week to No. 5. As the No. 10 ranked team in the nation last week, Missouri Western went on the road to defeat Washburn and No. 9 ranked Emporia State. The Griffons kept their perfect record for the season, now at 17-0 overall and 11-0 in the MIAA. Emporia State slipped to No. 12 in this week’s poll following its loss to Missouri Western.
Alaska-Anchorage takes over as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team after previous No. 1 West Texas A&M took its first loss of the season last week. Lubbock Christian, the No. 4 team in last week’s poll, jumped up to No. 2 this week as it is still unbeaten on the season.
Fort Hays State engages in its second top-five battle of the season on Thursday in St. Joseph at Missouri Western. To get to No. 1 in the poll earlier this season, a then No. 5 ranked FHSU defeated No. 1 ranked Emporia State in Hays by one point on December 5. FHSU held the No. 1 ranking for nearly a month. This is the only time the FHSU meets the Griffons in the regular season, as they are one of just four opponents FHSU does not play twice in MIAA action this year. FHSU enters Thursday one game back of Missouri Western in the MIAA standings, looking to tie for the conference lead through 12 games of the 22-game conference schedule.
Below is the WBCA Division II Poll for January 19, 2016.
| Rank | Institution – First Place Votes | Previous Rank | Record | Total Points |
| 1 | University of Alaska – Anchorage – 11 | 2 | 20-1 | 560 |
| 2 | Lubbock Christian University (Texas) – 9 | 4 | 15-0 | 550 |
| 3 | Fort Hays State University (Kan.) | 3 | 16-1 | 522 |
| 4 | Ashland University (Ohio) – 1 | 6 | 16-0 | 505 |
| 5 | Missouri Western State – 2 | 10 | 17-0 | 483 |
| 6 | California Baptist University | 5 | 15-1 | 477 |
| 7 | Limestone College (S.C.) – 1 | 7 | 14-0 | 469 |
| 8 | West Texas A&M University | 1 | 16-1 | 434 |
| 9 | Lewis University (Ill.) | 8 | 16-1 | 415 |
| 10 | Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) | 11 | 15-1 | 396 |
| 11 | Anderson University (S.C.) | 14 | 12-1 | 307 |
| 12 | Emporia State University (Kan.) | 9 | 14-3 | 302 |
| 13 | West Liberty University (W.Va.) | 15 | 15-1 | 259 |
| 14 | Winona State University (Minn.) | 12 | 17-2 | 248 |
| 15 | Benedict College (S.C.) | 17 | 17-1 | 240 |
| 16 | Union University (Tenn.) | 18 | 15-2 | 217 |
| 17 | Virginia Union University | 21 | 12-1 | 197 |
| 18 | Quincy University (Ill.) | 19 | 15-1 | 194 |
| 19 | Drury University (Mo.) | 16 | 12-3 | 191 |
| 20 | Arkansas Tech University | 22 | 11-2 | 143 |
| 21 | University of California – San Diego | 23 | 14-2 | 118 |
| 22 | Clayton State University (Ga.) | NR | 15-1 | 107 |
| 23 | Columbus State University (Ga.) | 13 | 12-3 | 105 |
| 24 | Delta State University (Miss.) | 25 | 12-2 | 79 |
| 25 | Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) | 24 | 13-3 | 55 |
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine University (Ky.) 46; Florida Southern College 37; American International College (Mass.) 35; University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 21; Northern State University (S.D.) 14; Kentucky State University 8; Colorado School of Mines 7; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 7.