RICHMOND, Va. – Both McKendree University swimming & diving programs appear in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division II Top 25 polls that were released by the CSCAA on Thursday.

In this year's first regular season poll, the Bearcat men's program is ranked seventh, while the women's program is ranked 19th nationally. The rankings are voted on by CSCAA-member coaches and select media. The committee consists of six representatives from Division II schools and two media members. The next poll is scheduled to be released on Dec. 9.
 
McKendree's men's team was ranked fourth in the preseason poll, while the McKendree women's team was ranked 24th in the preseason poll that was released on Oct. 21.
 
In the new poll, the Bearcats, who are 7-1 on the season with its only dual meet loss coming last Friday at No. 1 ranked University of Indianapolis, earned 129 points to sit 10 points in front of No. 8 Florida Southern (119 points) and 10 points behind No. 6 Colorado Mesa (139 points). UIndy continues to sit atop the poll, while Queens (N.C.) is second and Drury remains third. Wingate and Grand Valley round out the Top 5.
 
The Great Lakes Conference continues to be well-represented in the men's rankings as the league has six teams ranked and a seventh, Lewis, received votes. The ranked GLVC teams include UIndy, Drury, McKendree, Lindenwood at No. 10, Missouri S&T at No. 15, and UMSL at No. 24. Lewis earned 10 votes to be one of six teams earning votes in the new poll.
 
Meanwhile, in the new women's poll, the Bearcat women jumped five spots to No. 19 as they are 2-7 in dual meets with losses coming to nationally ranked teams – No. 1 Indianapolis, No. 3 Drury, No. 11 Lindenwood, No. 15 Delta State. In the new poll, McKendree received 31 points to be two points in front of No. 20 Cal State East Bay (29 points) and 13 points behind No. 18 Rollins (Fla.), who earned 44 points.
 
Much like the men's side of the poll, the GLVC is also well represented in the women's poll as five schools are ranked in the Top 25 as UIndy is atop the poll at No. 1, while Drury is No. 3, Lindenwood is No. 11 and Truman State is No. 21.
 
The Bearcat men and women will return to pool next weekend (Nov. 18-20) as they compete at the Purdue Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind.