The Butler women have moved up 10 spots in the new NJCAA Division I women's basketball poll, coming it at No. 6 this week.
Butler was 16th in the preseason poll. This week's poll is the first new poll since the preseason.
Butler has gone 11-0 to start the season with wins over three ranked NJCAA teams. Butler beat Kirkwood (Iowa) in the season opener, which was No. 2 in Division II. Butler then beat No. 19 Iowa Western and No. 10 in back-to-back games last week.
This is tied for the highest ranking under coach Mike Helmer, who is now in his 12th season leading the Butler program. He led Butler to a No. 6 spot in the rankings for three straight weeks in the 2013-14 season. The highest ranking in program history is No. 4, which Butler achieved in the 2002-03 season when the Grizzlies started the season 20-0.
The Grizzlies are the highest-ranked Kansas team, jumping ahead of Hutchinson, which is No. 8. The two teams will face off on Saturday in the Sports Arena in Hutchinson. The only other ranked Kansas team is Seward at No. 14.
Northwest Florida State moved up one spot to No. 1 in the poll, followed by Trinity Valley (Texas), Tallahassee (Fla.), Shelton State (Ala.), and Chipola (Fla.) in the top five.
Preseason No. 1 New Mexico JC falls to No. 7. After Hutchinson, Wabash Valley (Ill.) and Gulf Coast State (Fla.) round out the top 10.
