Fort Hays Athletics
Fort Hays State moved up to No. 18 in the latest edition of the NABC Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday.
The Tigers climb four spots this week after entering the Top 25 of the NABC poll at No. 22 last week, their first appearance in the NABC Top 25 since the 2013-14 season.
Fort Hays State (21-4) now has a record of 5-0 all-time while holding the No. 22 ranking in the NABC Top 25 after going 2-0 last week in road contests at Lincoln and Central Missouri. The Tigers play host to Missouri Western on Wednesday for Senior Night at Gross Memorial Coliseum, then head to face No. 13 ranked Northwest Missouri State on Saturday in Maryville. The match-up on Saturday will be the first game the FHSU men face a ranked team, while also ranked, since Jan. 9, 2012, when a No. 8 FHSU squad faced No. 14 Missouri Southern.
Central Oklahoma, ranked No. 15 in the latest poll, gives the MIAA three teams inside the NABC Top 25. The Bronchos have a one-game lead on both FHSU and Northwest Missouri State going into the The Central Region has six nationally ranked teams as the three from the MIAA join three from the NSIC, which includes No. 5 Augustana, No. 12 Minnesota Duluth, and No. 14 Upper Iowa.
The Tigers were right on the edge of cracking the D2SIDA Top 25 for another time this season, listed highest among the teams receiving votes outside the Top 25. FHSU has been as high as No. 22 in that poll this season.