By Travis Rae, Communications and Sports Information Intern NAIA

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Texas at Brownsville remains the No. 1 team in the eighth edition of the Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Scorpions received 21-of-22 first-place votes and garnered 622 points to stay No. 1, for the tenth-straight week.

Texas at Brownsville extended its winning streak to 29 matches with victories over SAGU (Texas), 3-0, (25-13, 25-9, 25-19) and Texas Wesleyan, 3-0, (25-18, 25-11, 25-14) last week. The Scorpions have not dropped a set since Sept. 22 against Lubbock Christian (Texas). Texas at Brownsville steps out of Red River Athletic Conference action this weekend when it travels to California, to face No. 2 Concordia (Calif.) on Oct. 25, No. 21 Vanguard (Calif.) on Oct. 26 and No. 4 Biola (Calif.) on Oct. 27.

Nos. 2-5 remained the same as last week's edition. No. 2 Concordia received the final first place vote and earned 602 points, while No. 3 Columbia (Mo.) tallied 582 points. No. 4 Biola collected 562 points, and rounding out the top 5, No. 5 Lee (Tenn.) captured 531 points.

The biggest movers this week were No. 15 Indiana East and No. 16 Madonna (Mich.), as both jumped three spots in the ratings. Indiana East is coming off a 5-0 week with victories over NCAA Division II Urbana (Ohio), 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-17), Northwestern Ohio, 3-0, (25-10, 25-19, 25-17), Aquinas (Mich.), 3-0, (25-14, 25-15, 25-19), Roosevelt (Ill.), 3-0, (25-17, 25-22, 25-22) and Michigan - Dearborn, 3-0, (25-17, 25-13, 25-14). Since 2000, this is the highest rating the Red Wolves have had. Madonna was just as impressive as they were 4-1 last week. The Crusaders defeated Lawrence Tech (Mich.), 3-0, (25-12, 25-17, 25-15), NCAA Division II Daeman (N.Y.), 3-2, (25-21, 24-26, 25-13, 22-25, 15-10), Rochester (Mich.), 3-0, (25-10, 25-17, 25-22) and Trinity International (Ill.), 3-0, (25-22, 25-6, 25-10).

Returning to the poll for the first time since Sept. 11 is No. 24 Bellevue (Neb.). The Bruins started its 3-0 week with a victory over then-No. 13 Grand View (Iowa), 3-2, (25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-6) on Oct. 16. Bellevue continued its winning ways on Oct. 19 with a victory over College of the Ozarks (Mo.), 3-1, (25-19, 26-28, 25-12, 25-18) and on Oct. 20 as it defeated Central Baptist (Ark.), 3-0, (25-9, 25-14, 25-13).

Falling out of the poll this week is Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) (No.24).

Sixteen conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups are represented throughout the Top 25, led by the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) with five ranked teams. Representing the GSAC is Concordia, Biola, No. 8 The Master's (Calif.), No. 12 Westmont and Vanguard.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Independents. The ninth regular-season poll will be announced on Oct. 30.

Notes: (All information as of 2000) Texas at Brownsville's 18 No. 1 rankings are the fourth-most all-time ... Former member, Fresno Pacific (Calif.), has the most No. 1 appearances with 70, followed by former member National American (S.D.) with 32 and Columbia (Mo.) with 20... Texas at Brownsville has been ranked No. 1 in 18 of the last 21 weeks... Concordia (Calif.) has the longest active streak in the Top 25 as it has been ranked for 81-straight polls; right behind Concordia is Biola (Calif.) with 80-straight polls... The top four positions remained the same for the eighth-consecutive week... There has only been one program that has been able to maintain the No. 1 ranking for an entire season with Fresno Pacific accomplishing the feat in 2004, 2008 and 2009... No. 15 is the highest Indiana East has been ranked... Bellevue (Neb.) returns to the poll after missing the last five weeks.

2012 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll - No. 8

Others receiving votes: Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 95; Lubbock Christian (Texas) 75; Trinity Christian (Ill.) 71; Southern Oregon 42; Jamestown (N.D.) 42; Point Park (Pa.) 34; Northwestern Ohio 34; Ottawa (Kan.) 26; Spring Hill (Ala.) 12; Taylor (Ind.) 10; Dordt (Iowa) 8; Carroll (Mont.) 4; Eastern Oregon 4.