PORTLAND, Ore. --- The successful fall season continues for the Portland Pilots, who find themselves among the top schools nationally in overall athletic success. Portland currently ranks 2nd nationally and is first among non-Power 5 schools in combined win-loss percentage for men's and women's soccer and volleyball.
The Pilots, who are combined 22-4-2 (.821) for those three sports, trail only Michigan State (.828).
Additionally, Portland is the only mid-major in the nation and is one of only seven athletic departments in the country to have four or more teams nationally ranked or receiving votes: Stanford (5), UCLA (4), Washington (4), Wisconsin (4), Colorado (4), NC State (4) and Portland (4).
UP men's cross country is ranked No. 3 nationally in both FloTrack and the coaches' poll, the women's cross country team is No. 12 in the FloTrack rankings and No. 28 in the coaches' poll, men's soccer climbed to 10th in the Top Drawer rankings and 15th in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll, and volleyball is receiving votes in both the AVCA Coaches' Poll and VolleyMob Top 25.
Here's a look at some highlights for each sport:
VOLLEYBALL
- At 12-0, the Pilots are one of six remaining undefeated teams in the nation.
- It's the best start and longest win streak in program history.
- Head coach Jeff Baxter's 12-0 start is thought to be the second best start ever for a Division I volleyball first-year head coach, behind Chuck Erbe's 24-0 start for eventual champion USC in 1976.
- The Pilots are the first team out of this week's VolleyMob Top 25, and are also receiving votes (No. 32 overall) in the AVCA Coaches' Poll.
MEN'S SOCCER
- The Pilots shutout No. 9 Washington 1-0 last Friday night remain one of 14 unbeaten teams in the nation (5-0-2).
- At 5-0-2, the Pilots are off to the program's best start since 1989.
- Portland is ranked No. 10 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer Poll and sit at No. 15 in the latest United Soccer Coaches' poll.
- Senior goalkeeper Kienan Weekes was named the WCC Player of the Week, while junior forward Benji Michel, who is tied for the WCC lead in goals (5), received honorable mention weekly honors from Top Drawer Soccer following Portland's unbeaten weekend.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
- The Pilots (5-4-0) dominated Oregon State on the road Sunday by a 3-0 margin, after a tough 2-1 loss to Oregon on Friday.
- Sophomore Taryn Ries has now scored five goals in the last four matches.
- The Pilots have already surpassed the team's goal total (12-11) from a year ago.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
- Both teams are nationally ranked (men are No. 3, women are No. 12/28), with the first big meet of the fall coming Sept. 28 at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Wisconsin.
