Complete AVCA National Rankings

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/06/06)-- Concordia moved into an elite group of teams in the latest AVCA Division III national poll. The Cobbers, who were ranked fourth in the nation for seven straight weeks moved up one spot into the top three in the country in the latest national poll.

It is the highest the Cobbers have ever been ranked and ties for the highest ranking by an MIAC school in the history of the conference. St. Thomas was ranked as high as No.3 in 1992 and St. Olaf achieved a similar status in 1997.

Concordia has now spent 33 weeks in the top 25 in the AVCA national poll. That is also a conference record for the most consecutive weeks spent in the top 25 by one school in the MIAC.

The Cobbers moved up to the No.3 spot after LaVerne (Calif.), who was ranked third last week, lost to Redlands 3-0 in the final match of the regular season for the Leopards. Concordia is only behind Juniata (N.Y.) and Wasington University (Mo.).

Concordia earned its fourth straight berth in the NCAA Tournament by winning the MIAC regular season and playoff titles. It was the third playoff championship for the Cobbers in the past four seasons.

CC is seeded second in the Midwest Region Tournament which begins on Thursday, Nov. 9 at UW-Eau Claire. The Cobbers will play No.7-seed Beloit College (Wis.) in the first round on Thursday at 6 p.m.