The top four teams in last week’s NABC/Division II Coaches Poll will retain those spots heading into the new year with big challenges ahead for a couple of them. Findlay and South Carolina Aiken remain in the top two spots, the positions they have held since the beginning of the season. The No. 2-ranked Pacers have a contest at Florida Southern – a team once ranked in the top five – Dec. 30 in Lakeland, Fla. Southwest Baptist stays at No. 3 with its next contest coming against No. 10 Missouri Southern, who remained undefeated after winning three games in Puerto Rico last week. Gannon retains the fourth spot and Arkansas-Monticello moves up three spots to No. 5.LIU-C.W. Post heads up the second five, followed by Augusta State, Central Oklahoma, Minnesota State and Missouri Southern. Kentucky Wesleyan moved up two spots to No. 11, with BYU-Hawaii falling out out of the top 10 after a home loss to Washburn last week. Bellarmine picked up three wins away from home and jumped five spots to No. 13 as a result, while Catawba and Saint Martin’s, who had a perfect trip to Hawaii last week, advanced to the No. 15 spot.The top 20 is rounded out by Grand Valley State, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Northern State and poll newcomer Arkansas Tech. ATU is one of five new teams in the poll this week as it is joined by Claflin, Edinboro, Augustana and Clayton State – three of whom are undefeated heading into the holidays.The next poll will be released Jan. 6.
