The WSC Wildcats fell one spot in the AVCA Top 25 national poll and are now ninth ranked overall, after splitting the weekend against conference foes.

This week’s ranking marks the 95th straight national ranking for the Wildcats, dating back to Sept. 28, 2009.

WSC is one of six NSIC teams to make top ten in the poll for Division II. Minnesota Duluth is ranked first, followed by Concordia-St. Paul (2nd) and Southwest Minnesota State (3rd).

Augustana University (6th), Winona State (7th) and Wayne State (9th) round out the top ten.

“We can play with anybody,” Head Coach Scott Kneifl said. “Now we need to cross over and beat some of these top ten teams. Playing with these great teams is great, but unless you beat them, it’s not going to do much for postseason resume.”

The Wildcats started off last week with a game against the Chadron State (CSC) Eagles Tuesday night. The Wildcats swept CSC in straight sets.

The ‘Cats had to battle in the first set, which featured eight lead changes as well as 18 ties. CSC held a 23-22 lead late in the first set, but WSC battled back and took the lead. With the scores tied up at 26, the ‘Cats used a Michaela Mestl kill and a CSC attack error to take the set, 28-26.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early second set lead, 6-1, after a pair of Mestl kills. WSC did not let off the gas in the second set, taking the set 25-11.

The Eagles stayed within striking distance, but never could get the lead in the third. WSC won the final set, completing the sweep, 25-18.

The ‘Cats weekend included a pair of conference foes, with Minnesota State coming to town Friday night.

“We had to play two really good teams,” Kneifl said. “When you split with two really good teams, it’s an OK weekend, but of course you always want more.

The first set was close, with WSC using back-to-back kills from Mestl to close the set 25-23.

WSC again battled back and forth in the second set. With the score tied at 23, WSC closed out on an Alyssa Frauendorfer kill and a Minnesota State service error.

Minnesota State kept WSC to only eight kills in the third set. The Mavericks finished WSC off, 25-19 in the third.

WSC was again involved in a late battle, eventually falling in the fourth set, 25-23.

The Mavericks had the momentum early in the fifth and final set, building a 10-5 lead. The ‘Cats dug deep and got the score back in their favor 11-10 just six points later. Minnesota State had one last surge, coming within one point of tying it back up, but WSC won on a Maverick service rror. Wayne State took the final set 15-13.

“I thought we had a really good, come-from-behind win Friday night,” Kneifl said. “Our team showed a lot of character.”

The Wildcats tried to keep the momentum rolling into Saturday’s matchup of two top 10 teams, but they fell short to second-ranked Concordia-St. Paul (C-SP).

The Wildcats got down early in the first, and could not get it closer than four points after C-SP got out to a 5-0 lead to start the match. The ‘Cats fell in the first, 25-13.

“I thought we came out a little flat, maybe a little tired on Saturday,” Kneifl said.

C-SP used 15 kills in the second set to beat WSC 25-18.

The third set was much closer, with 10 ties and three lead changes. The Wildcats ultimately fell 29-27, with C-SP completing the sweep.

“Concordia is a great team,” Kneifl said. “There are a lot of positives we can take from this weekend, but there are also some things we know we need to get better at.”

The Wildcats are now 14-4 and 5-4 in NSIC play.

“We just have to keep plugging away,” Kneifl said. “We have to keep chipping away and try to find a way to win those close sets and make a run.”

The next two weeks will be tough for the Wildcats, as three of the next four games are against top-ranked teams.

The ‘Cats are on the road next weekend, traveling to a pair of NSIC opponents in seventh ranked Winona State and Upper Iowa.