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CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – The Valley City State University men’s basketball team moved into the Top 25 poll on Tuesday for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
The Vikings are ranked No. 19 in the NAIA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday afternoon. VCSU (10-1, 2-0 NSAA) is coming off a 3-0 week that included an 80-55 win over previously No. 15-ranked Waldorf College – it’s second victory over a Top 15 opponent. The Vikings were receiving votes in the poll last week.
The North Star Athletic Association has two teams ranked inside the Top 25 and two more teams receiving votes in this week’s poll. Bellevue is the top NSAA team at No. 13. VCSU is No. 19, and both University of Jamestown and Waldorf College are receiving votes.
Valley City State faces it toughest two-game stretch of the season this week when the Vikings host a pair of ranked teams. VCSU hosts No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Vikings will host No. 13 Bellevue for a conference game at6:30 p.m.
The No. 19 ranking is VCSU’s first appearance inside the Top 25 since being ranked No. 24 in the poll on Feb. 27, 2013. The Vikings were ranked as high as No. 15 that season and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 1986.