D2 FOOTBALL IS IN full swing after three weeks of competition. Two-time defending champion, Grand Valley State is 1-0 and sits atop the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Lakers had their game with GLIAC foe Ashland called due to lightning. This was not the first occurrence of lightning in 2007. In one of the first games of the season, Northwest Missouri State and Arkansas Tech had the same outcome. A no-contest. However, this decision took a week and a half for the schools and NCAA to figure out. The Bearcats then traveled to Nebraska-Omaha last weekend and was upset. They lost the #2 ranking they had held for over a year, while UNO jumped into the Top 10. Other highly ranked teams include current #2 North Dakota (2-0), #3 North Alabama (1-0), #4 Valdosta State (2-0) and #5 Chadron State (3-0).

AFTER AN UNDEFEATED 2006 campaign, the Tampa Spartans were ranked #1 in the pre-season before and opening game loss to NAIA California Baptist. However, the Spartans have now won 10 in a row to now hold a strong #2 ranking in the latest AVCA D2 Volleyball poll. CalState-San Bernardino now hold the #1 ranking with a record of 10-0. Also receiving first place votes with CSSB and Tampa is #3 ranked Concordia-St. Paul (11-0). Rounding out the Top 5 is Minnesota-Duluth (11-1) and Florida Southern (9-1). The NCAA has announced that the 2006 national title re-match between Tampa and North Alabama will be streamed live (CSTV) on October 19th as the D2 Match of the Week.

IN D2 SOCCER ACTION the previously #1 ranked Fort Lewis team fell completely out of the Top 25 after losing two RMAC contests to Metro State and Regis. Lynn (6-0) now sits atop the NSCAA poll, while Northern Kentucky (6-0), Lenior-Rhyne (4-0), Seattle Pacific (4-0-1) and Clayton State (3-0-1) round out the Top 5. Defending champion Dowling is at #7. In Women’s action, Grand Valley State (5-0) is ranked #1 and defending champion Metro State (4-1-1) is #11. Following GVSU in the Top 5 are UC-San Diego (4-0), Tampa (5-1), Bryant (5-0-1), and Slippery Rock (5-1).