Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) is ranked second with 509 points, followed by the University of South Carolina - Beaufort with 483 points, Johnson & Wales University (Fla.) with 461 points and Lee University round out the top five with 455 points. The defending national champion, Oklahoma Christian, is ranked 11th.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The first regular season rating will be announced on Feb. 26.

Others receiving votes: Madonna University (Mich.) 91; Southeastern University (Fla.) 85; William Woods University (Mo.) 83; University of Texas at Brownsville 62; California State University-San Marcos 60; Tennessee Wesleyan College 39; Spring Hill College (Ala.) 37; University of St. Francis (Ill.) 30; Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) 30; Southwestern College (Kan.) 26; The Master's College (Calif.) 16; Morningside College (Iowa) 12; Cornerstone University (Mich.) 9; Lubbock Christian University (Texas) 9; William Carey University (Miss.) 6; Milligan College (Tenn.) 5; Thomas University (Ga.) 5; Minot State University (N.D.) 4; Bethany College (Kan.) 4; Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 3; Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 2; Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) 1; Union College (Ky.) 1; Shorter College (Ga.) 1; Missouri Valley College 1; Concordia University (Ore.) 1; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) 1; Davenport University (Mich.) 1; Reinhardt College (Ga.) 1; Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) 1.

^ May 8, 2009

Source:  NAIA Sports Information