SALISBURY, Md. – Presenting Roadie Joes Rankings for the first Wednesday in November, with appearances by Salisbury University field hockey, football, volleyball, and men's and women's swimming.
Field Hockey – 5th | Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III Coaches Poll, Nov. 4
Salisbury (15-2) backtracked one slot in the poll, claiming fifth with 400 points to round out a top five that featured Christopher Newport (475), Johns Hopkins (456), Babson (437), and Tufts (406). SU also slotted eighth in the most recent
NCAA Power Index (NPI) metrics.
The Sea Gulls closed out the regular season with a pair of resume-boosting ranked wins, topping No. 14 Rowan 2-0 at home on Wednesday and vanquishing No. 23 TCNJ 3-2 on the road on Saturday. Salisbury will enter the postseason with one of the nation's strongest defense; the team leads NCAA Division III in shutouts per game (0.76) and ranks second in goals against average (0.52), and its plus-3.22 scoring margin is fifth nationally.
SU will head north to New Paltz, N.Y., for its debut in
the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament. The top-seeded Sea Gulls will battle fourth-seeded Oneonta in the semifinals on Friday at 11 a.m., followed by a potential championship matchup against either second-seeded New Paltz or third-seeded Cortland on Saturday at 12 p.m.
Football – 7th | D3football.com Top 25, Week 9
Salisbury (8-0) ceded two slots in the media rankings, posting 484 points to hold off eighth-ranked UW-River Falls (477) and nip at the heels of sixth-ranked Wartburg (486). SU currently rolls in
eighth in the NPI.
The Sea Gulls celebrated Senior Day with a 51-7 romp of William Paterson on Saturday. Salisbury continues to dominate the ground game, ranking third in Division III in rushing offense (314.1) while giving up the second-fewest tackles for loss (2.75) of any team in the nation.
In one of the most anticipated Division III games of the year, SU will battle 13th-ranked Christopher Newport with first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) up for grabs. Kickoff from TowneBank Stadium in Newport News, Va., is set for 6 p.m.
Volleyball – 17th | NCAA Power Index Ranking, Nov. 3
Salisbury (26-5) moved into the top 20 as it bids for the field of 64, posting a metric of 62.906 to vault from 21st to 17th and taking the space between No. 16 Lynchburg (63.301) and No. 18 Juniata (62.752). In
Tuesday's AVCA poll, SU received 101 votes, one slot back of No. 25 Calvin (150) for an official coaches' ranking.
The Sea Gulls' winning streak reached double digits with 3-0 sweeps of Mary Washington and then-No. 13 Lynchburg on Senior Day Saturday. Salisbury has now won 11 straight matches and 21 of its last 23 dating back to Sept. 13. With middle blocker
Gwen Eustace leading the nation in hitting percentage (.497) and rolling third in total blocks (112), the Sea Gulls boast the third-most team kills (1,409) and fourth-most team blocks (242) in Division III.
SU will close out the regular season at Stockton on Friday with first serve from Galloway, N.J. set for 6 p.m.
Men's Swimming – 21st | Swimcloud Division III Dual Meet Team Rankings
Salisbury (2-0) posted a 580.55 quality-of-swims metric, shoring up between Washington & Lee (582.70) and Berry (574.10). SU also continues to hold a No. 22 ranking from last month's CSCAA poll.
The Sea Gulls started a double-dip against NJAC foes with a 177-85 home win against Rowan on Saturday.
Brody Hanlon won his first career NJAC Swimmer of the Week award, while
Everett Rachael gave Salisbury another sweep with NJAC Rookie of the Week.
SU will now face nationally-ranked foes on the road for two consecutive weekends, starting with a visit to No. 18 TCNJ on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Women's Swimming – 23rd | Swimcloud Division III Dual Meet Team Rankings
Salisbury (2-0) rolled in with a 547.30 quality-of-swims metric, moving up seven slots to land between Washington & Lee (549.85) and John Caroll (541.70). SU also held at No. 24 in the monthly CSCAA poll.
In pursuit of a second straight NJAC championship, the Sea Gulls dispatched league rival Rowan with ease, 177.5-84.5, on Saturday.
Rowan Odonoghue continued a hot start to her collegiate career, taking NJAC Rookie of the Week for the second time in as many meets.
SU will stay in conference competition on Saturday, calling on TCNJ in Ewing, N.J. at 1 p.m.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 205 conference championships, and have produced 53 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
