EUGENE, Ore. – With another Top-25 victory, the Beacons have made a move in the NAIA, national coaches poll, climbing to their highest rating in school history at No. 20.
Bushnell (16-10, 10-6 CCC) received 174 points in the poll and are one of six teams in the CCC to land in the Top-25 and eight total that are receiving votes. Since the previous poll, Bushnell fell a pair of NAIA Top-25 teams in Eastern Oregon and The College of Idaho, but defeated another in Northwest University to complete a season sweep.
CCC leader Eastern Oregon University (22-2, 14-2) lost twice in the past two weeks, and slipped to No. 2 in the national poll, despite holding victories against all four other top-five teams. Corban (19-4, 13-3), who handed EOU one of those losses, moved back into the top five.
LC State (15-4, 12-4) came in at No. 12 and The College of Idaho (15-8, 9-7) followed at No. 18. Bushnell is No. 20 with Northwest (13-9, 7-9) now behind them at No. 21.
Two teams are receiving votes and climbing closer to the Top-25: Walla Walla (12-7, 10-6) and Southern Oregon (11-12, 8-8).
The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
UP NEXT: The Beacons are currently tied for fourth-place in the Cascade Conference with Walla Walla. The teams go head-to-head on Friday afternoon at 2:00 pm in Washington. Then on Saturday Bushnell travels to Lewiston, Idaho to take on No. 12 Lewis-Clark State at 2:00 pm.