Valparaiso remained among the top squads in the nation with the release of the February National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) coaches poll on Saturday, as the Crusaders came in ranked #3 nationally.

Valpo, which had been ranked #1 in the nation in the last version of both the media poll and the coaches poll, took the third spot with 622 points and received four first-place votes.  Fairleigh Dickinson (67-15) ascended to #1 and earned 21 first-place votes, while Sacred Heart (47-14) took one first-place vote and is ranked #2 nationally.  Arkansas State (48-16) and Maryland Eastern Shore (62-22) round out the top-five teams.

Valparaiso (57-22) returns to the lanes in two weekends, heading to the Holiday Classic in Bessemer, Ala., hosted by #17 Alabama A&M.