April 12, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's rowing team earned their highest ever national rankings when USRowing released its coaches' polls on Wednesday.
In the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll, the currently undefeated Knights leaped to No. 12 after beating Virginia last weekend at Lake Monticello. UCF had been among the team's also receiving votes in the previous two rankings.
The poll's top five remained the same as Brown stayed at No. 1 with 462 points, edging USC at second with 461 points. Ohio State (419 pts.) was third followed by Yale (407) and Cal (379). UCF collected 191 points.
Meanwhile, the Knights opened the first USRowing Lightweight Eight Collegiate Coaches Poll of the season at No. 5 with 127 points. Princeton claimed the top spot with 156 points, narrowly beating No. 2 Wisconsin with 154 points. Georgetown (140 points) and Radcliffe (132) were listed at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
"To open the season so highly ranked is a result of the hard work that our athletes have shown both in training sessions and in competition against some tough opponents," said UCF head coach Leeanne Crain. "We have to continue to keep our focus during the competitive schedule ahead in order to keep our position in the polls and stay true to our goal of qualifying for the NCAA Championships."
UCF travels to California this weekend, where the Knights go head-to-head with several nationally ranked teams in the Windermere Real Estate Rowing Classic on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15. For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports.
USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll
1. Brown University (13), 462
2. University of Southern California (10), 461
3. The Ohio State University, 419
4. Yale University (1), 407
5. University of California at Berkeley, 379
6. Harvard University, 356
7. Stanford University, 315
8. University of California at Los Angeles, 285
9. Princeton University, 267
10. University of Minnesota, 252
11. University of Michigan, 226
12. UCF, 191
13. University of Virginia, 186
14. Washington State University, 146
15. University of Tennessee, 142
16. University of Notre Dame, 109
17. Oregon State University, 98
18. University of Wisconsin, 87
19. University of Washington, 74
20. Michigan State University, 67
Receiving Votes: University of Louisville 50, Dartmouth College 37, Clemson University 17, Gonzaga University 4, and Northeastern University 3.
USRowing Lightweight Women's Eight Collegiate Coaches Poll
1. Princeton University (5), 156
2. University of Wisconsin (3), 154
3. Georgetown University, 140
4. Radcliffe, 132
5. UCF, 191
6. Bucknell University, 119
7. Stanford University, 118
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 107
9. Lehigh University, 79
10. University of Dayton, 70
11. University of Buffalo, 57
12. The Ohio State University, 53
13. Loyola Marymount University, 50
14. University of California, 44
15. Marist College, 43
Receiving Votes: Long Beach State 18, Temple University 18, Duquesne University 17, Pacific Lutheran University 15, Chapman University 9, University of Tulsa 8, University of California at San Diego 7, and Arizona State 6.