Sept. 17, 2002

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University climbed three spots to No.17 in this week's American Football Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll.

The Vikings, who are off to their first 2-0 start since 1996, are coming off a 52-14 home-opening victory over Fort Lewis CO. They opened the season with a 24-16 win at Central Oklahoma.

The top six teams in the AFCA Top 25 remained the same, led by Grand Valley State MI at No.1. UC Davis moved up one spot to No.20 and Central Washington climbed two spots to No.20.

Western is No.11 in this week's Dan Hansen's Football Gazette poll and No.22 in the d2football.com Top 25.

The Vikings have a bye this week before traveling to Moraga, Calif., for a contest with NCAA Division I-AA Saint Mary's. The 2-1 Gaels are at Central Washington this Saturday (1 p.m.).

AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATIONNCAA Division II Poll (Sept. 17)Rank    Team                   Points       Last Week1   Grand Valley State (1-0)    675     12   Valdosta State (2-0)        643     23   Pittsburg State (2-0)       624     34   Saginaw Valley State (2-0)  577     45   Carson-Newman (3-0)     565     56   Tarleton State (3-0)        517     67   Northwest Missouri State (2-0)  490     98   Tuskegee (3-0)          453     79   Central Arkansas (2-0)      438     1210  UC Davis (1-1)          418     1111  Nebraska-Kearney (2-0)      384     1312  Texas A&M-Kingsville (1-1)  332     1413  Tusculum (3-0)          325     1514  Central Missouri State (2-0)    317     1615  Indiana, Pa. (2-1)      295     1816  North Dakota (2-1)      249     1917   Western Washington (2-0)    225     2018  C.W. Post (2-0)         216     1719  Catawba (1-1)           209     820  Central Washington (3-0)    190     2221  Shepherd (2-0)          158     2122  Missouri Western (2-0)      92      2523  Bloomsburg (1-1)        81      2424  Chadron State (1-1)     63      1025  Northern Colorado (1-1)     62      23