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CITY (NewsDakota.com)–For the second straight week, the Viking men were snubbed by the national poll.

 

Valley City State fell to a tie for 19th, down two places, in this week’s NAIA Division II national poll. The Vikings lone game last week was an 80-77 loss to then tenth-ranked Jamestown College in overtime on a half-court shot as time expired.

 

Jamestown College moved up a spot to ninth this week. The Vikings failed to move up after their win over the Jimmies two weeks ago, a week where the Vikings defeated the then seventh-ranked Jimmies and also beat Mayville State by 25 points.

 

The NAIA has a long history of favoring private schools. While Jamestown College is certainly deserving of their top-10 ranking, four private colleges with records worse than VCSU’s 20-7 mark are ranked higher, and teams rarely fail to move up after a win over a top-10 team, as the Vikings did two weeks ago.

 

Two straight 20-win Viking teams were denied entry into the NAIA Division II national tournament in 2008-09 and 2009-10. NAIA national polls are notorious for political voting, usually in favor of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Briar Cliff has moved down in two straight polls, and is 19-8 overall, but still remains ahead of the Vikings.

 

The Vikings host Dickinson State Wednesday night.