BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The University of Southern California Trojans and Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays held onto their positions at No. 1 in the Varsity Top 20 and Division III Top 10 polls, while the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen rose to No. 1 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Top 10 poll as the September 16 National Varsity Polls were released by the CWPA.
Voted on by a panel of coaches and administrators from around the country during each week of the season and based on the cumulative results of each team, the Varsity Top 20, Division III Top 10 and Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 10 polls are released each Wednesday during the season until the Wednesday following the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship.
Men's Top 20 Varsity Poll
The University of Southern California, which knocked off Stanford University 7-5 last year at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center to capture the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's National Championship, held firm as a unanimous selection as the No. 1 team in the nation.
Overall, the Top Nine teams in the country remain unchanged as Stanford University, University of California, University of California-Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University, University of California-Santa Barbara, Pepperdine University, University of California-Irvine and Long Beach State University held their positions at No. 2 through 9, respectively.
The first change from the September 9 poll occurred at No. 10 as Concordia University (Calif.), which was ranked No. 14 last week, jumped four places to break into the Top 10. University of the Pacific, which was ranked 10th seven days ago, slipped one place to No. 11, while Santa Clara University and the United States Naval Academy improved to No. 12 and 13, respectively.
The rise of Santa Clara and Navy grounded the United States Air Force Academy which descended to No. 14, one place in front of Saint Francis College (N.Y.) which held onto the 15th place ranking for a second week. Brown University, University of California-San Diego, University of California-Davis and California Baptist University account for positions 16 through 19, while Princeton University and Johns Hopkins University tied for No. 20.
2009 Varsity Top 20 (September 16 - Week 2) |
Rank | Team | Sept. 9 Poll | Points |
| 1 | University of Southern California | 1 | 100 |
| 2 | Stanford University | 2 | 94 |
| 3 | University of California, Berkeley | 3 | 90 |
| 4 | University of California, Los Angeles | 4 | 84 |
| 5 | Loyola Marymount University | 5 | 80 |
| 6 | University of California, Santa Barbara | 6 | 75 |
| 7 | Pepperdine University
| 7 | 71 |
| 8 | University of California, Irvine | 8 | 67 |
| 9 | Long Beach State University | 9 | 61 |
| 10 | Concordia University (Calif.)
| 14 | 55 |
| 11 | University of the Pacific
| 10 | 50 |
| 12 | Santa Clara University
| 16 | 39 |
| 13 | United States Naval Academy
| 17 (T) | 37 |
| 14 | United States Air Force Academy | 12 | 33 |
| 15 | St. Francis College (NY) | 15 | 27 |
| 16 | Brown University | 19 | 25 |
| 17 | University of California, San Diego | 13 | 21 |
| 18 | University of California, Davis | 17 (T) | 19 |
| 19 | California Baptist University
| RV | 16 |
| 20 (T) | Johns Hopkins University
| NR | 5 |
20 (T)
| Princeton University
| 11 | 5 |
| RV | University of Redlands | RV | 1 |
Men's Division III Top 10 Varsity Poll
Johns Hopkins University remains No. 1 in the Division III Top 10 poll as the Blue Jays received 100 points to outdistance University of Redlands and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges for another week.
Redlands and Pomona-Pitzer, which were tied for No. 2 last week, broke apart this week as Redlands claimed sole possession of second place, with Pomona-Pitzer, Whittier College and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges rounding out the Top Five.
Chapman University, California Lutheran University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Occidental College and University of La Verne wrap up the selections.
2009 Division III Poll (September 16 - Week 2) |
| Rank | Team | Sept. 9 Poll | Points |
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University | 1 | 100 |
| 2 | University of Redlands
| 2 (T) | 94 |
| 3 | Pomona-Pitzer Colleges | 2 (T) | 89 |
| 4 | Whittier College | 4 | 85 |
| 5 | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges | 5 | 80 |
| 6 | Chapman University
| 7 | 75 |
| 7 | California Lutheran University | 6 | 71 |
| 8 | MIT | 8 | 66 |
| 9 | Occidental College
| 10 | 60 |
| 10 | University of La Verne | 9 | 55 |
Men's Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 10 Poll
The United States Naval Academy improved from No. 3 in the September 9 poll to take over the top spot in the September 16 Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 10 Poll.
Brown University held on at No. 2, while Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University and Bucknell University round out the Top Five.
Fordham University, Iona College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and George Washington University complete the Top 10.
2009 CWPA Poll (September 16 - Week 2) |
Rank | Team | Sept. 9 Poll
| Points |
| 1 | United States Naval Academy
| 3 | 98 |
| 2 | Brown University
| 2 | 97 |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University | 5 | 86 |
| 4 | Princeton University
| 1 | 85 |
| 5 | Bucknell University
| 4 | 84 |
| 6 | Fordham University | 6 | 73 |
| 7 | Iona College | 7 | 71 |
| 8 | MIT | 8 | 66 |
| 9 | Harvard University | 10 | 60 |
| 10 | George Washington University
| 9 | 44 |
| RV | Mercyhurst College | RV | 11 |
