LEXINGTON, Ky. — After a pair of home sweeps against MSU Moorhead and Northern State, the Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team jumped two spots, ranking No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Poll released Monday.

The Mustangs are one of five NSIC schools ranked in the AVCA Top 25. Wayne State continues its reign as the unanimous No. 1. Concordia-St. Paul hangs in at No. 3, while Minnesota Duluth jumps one spot to No. 4 and St. Cloud State falls two spots to No. 7.

The rankings feature nine Central Region teams within the top 20. Nebraska-Kearney (No. 6), Washburn (No. 12), Northwest Missouri State (No. 13), and Central Oklahoma (No. 19) all represent the MIAA.

SMSU has started 19-2 overall and 11-2 in the NSIC. They have now been ranked in the Top 25 for 209 of the last 210 rankings, dating back to Sept. 5, 2006. It is the second week since the 2018 preseason poll that the Mustangs have ranked in the top five.

Their 19 victories through 21 matches are the third most wins through 21 matches in program history. The record is held by the 2012 and 2017 teams, who each started their respective seasons 20-1.

Both of those teams went on to win the NSIC tournament that season.

SMSU prepares for a road and home split this week, traveling to Sioux Falls to take on Augustana on Thursday at 6 p.m., before returning home to face No. 1 Wayne State on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.