Women's Volleyball | 10/26/2026 10:10:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team continues to strengthen its NCAA Tournament résumé, climbing one spot to No. 25 nationally while holding the top position in the Atlantic Region in the latest NCAA Division II Power Index (NPI) rankings.

The Golden Knights, who own an 18-4 overall record, improved from No. 26 nationally with an NPI rating of 60.923. Gannon leads all Atlantic Region programs and ranks ahead of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival Indiana (Pa.), which moved up five positions to No. 27 nationally with a rating of 60.761.

Gannon's regional standing comes as the Golden Knights continue their push toward the postseason under 20th-year head coach Matt Darling. The team has won three consecutive matches, including a straight-set victory at California (Pa.) on Friday and a thrilling five-set triumph at Seton Hill on Saturday.

The Golden Knights have already secured a berth in the PSAC Tournament and enter the final stretch of the regular season with an 8-2 conference record, tied for second place in the PSAC West standings.

Gannon returns to the Highmark Events Center for a pair of PSAC West matches this weekend. The Golden Knights host Clarion on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. before welcoming Slippery Rock on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. Saturday's contest will serve as Senior Day, with Gannon recognizing its six seniors following the match.

The NCAA National Power Index is a numerical rating system used to evaluate Division II volleyball teams for postseason selection. The system considers game results and opponent quality to help assess teams across the country. The NPI rankings are separate from the NCAA's official regional rankings.