Cal Poly & Michigan State Tie for No. 1 in Nov. 5 Men's Collegiate Club Poll

2008 Pacific Coast Division Champion California Polytechnic State University

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- For the first time in league history, the No. 1 team in the nation a week prior to the National Collegiate Club Championship is undecided as Michigan State University and California Polytechnic State University tied for the No. 1 spot in the November 5 Men's Collegiate Club Poll released by the Collegiate Water Polo Association.

The ranking marks the first time that top spot has been tied this year and marks the seventh week in a row Michigan State has been at No. 1.  The Spartans, who took over the No. 1 ranking from Cal Poly on September 24, will look to capture their third National Collegiate Club Championship, following titles in 2000 and 2006, as the team earned the No. 2 spot in the tournament field after capturing the Big 10 title over the weekend.

Defending National Champion Cal Poly returns to the No. 1 ranking for the first time since September 17 as the Mustangs ranked first in the preseason, September 10 and 17 polls.  The Pacific Coast Division champions, Cal Poly received the No. 1 spot in the National Collegiate Club tournament and will look to take its sixth National Collegiate Club title next weekend.

The No. 1 rankings could set up an interesting rematch of the 2007 finale as the Spartans and Mustangs met for the title last year at the University of Arizona with Cal Poly escaping with a 7-6 overtime victory against Michigan State.

Unlike last week's poll in which there were few dramatic changes, the November 5 balloting saw four teams which were unranked last week break into the Top 20, including two which jumped into the Top 10.

Southwest Division champion Arizona State University climbed one place to third this week, while Florida Division champion the University of Florida leaped from No. 14 last week to No. 4 and Mid-Atlantic Division titleist the University of Pennsylvania remained at No. 5.

Great Lakes Division champion Grand Valley State University moved up four places to No. 6, the University of California-Los Angeles slipped five spots to No. 7, Missouri Valley and Division III National Collegiate Club Championship winner Lindenwood University remained at No. 8, while Northwest Division and Rocky Mountain Division champions the University of Oregon and the University of Colorado moved from unranked to ninth and 10th, respectively.

The University of Arizona, Florida International University, New England Division champion Darthmouth College, the University of Utah and Atlantic Division champion Duke University rank No. 11 through 15, while Texas Division champion Texas A&M University, Missouri Valley Division runner-up the University of Illinois-Chicago, Great Plains Division champion the University of Minnesota, the University of California-Santa Barbara and the University of Michigan round out the Top 20 teams in the nation.

In addition, eight other teams received votes in this week's poll, including Southeast Division champion Georgia Institute of Technology and New York Division champion Columbia University.