TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 21, 2016) - As the fall sports season nears the home stretch, Region 8 continues to play a prominent role in the national landscape. 

Women's Volleyball

There couldn't be a better time for Region 8 to get a third automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championships. Six teams are ranked in the top 15 of this week's NJCAA Division I Volleyball Poll, led by No. 5 College of Central Florida.

The Patriots are the No. 1 team in the Region 8 Volleyball Coaches' Poll and currently lead the Mid-Florida Conference standings. 

Central Florida is one of three Region 8 teams in the top ten - Hillsborough Community College is ninth and Daytona State College, tenth.

Southern Conference leader Palm Beach State College is ranked No. 12, setting the pace for the final three Region 8 schools in this week's national poll. Conference rival Miami Dade College is No. 14 and Polk State College is No. 15.

It's possible all six schools could qualify for next month's NJCAA District/FCSAA State Volleyball Tournament in Bradenton, Fla.

Men's Soccer

First-year program Daytona State is on the cusp of the national top ten. The 12-1 Falcons climbed five spots to No. 11 in this week's NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Poll. 

Broward College took the poll position vacated by Daytona State and is now ranked No. 16 while Eastern Florida State received votes.

Women's Soccer

Eastern Florida State College's run of 16 straight polls at No. 1 ended when the Titans slipped seven spots to No. 8 in this week's NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer Poll.

Eastern Florida State dropped a pair of game on a trip to Wyoming, falling to Otero Junior College and Laramie County Community College. 

Joining the Titans in the poll is No. 16 Daytona State.