ATLANTA – With defending national champion and former No. 2 Dayton getting off to a bumpy start to the season, the Air Force Academy has strengthened its grip on the top spot in the MCLA Division II New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll, which was released Wednesday.

The Falcons (6-0), which defeated Virginia Tech D-II on Monday to stay perfect on the season, picked up 21 of the 27 first-place votes cast this interval to remain atop the charts for the second consecutive week.

After running its record to 7-0 with three more ranked wins over the weekend, St. Thomas moved up a spot to No. 2, bolstered by the remaining six first-place ballots.

An idle Montana State (4-1) outfit moved into the third slot followed by UNC-Charlotte (6-0) in fourth. Grand Valley State (2-0), which is off until St. Patrick’s Day, rounds out the Top 5.

With its 1-2 start to the campaign, Dayton dropped all the way down to No. 12 this session.

St. John’s (0-4) dropped out of the poll to make way for No. 25 Northern Arizona (2-0).

MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 3

Others receiving votes: UC Davis (32), Appalachian State (25), St. John’s (19), Bridgewater State (10), Georgia Southern (5), Miami (3), Tulane (3), MSU Denver (2), Central Washington (1), Virginia Tech D-II (1).