CHARLOTTE - After a 5-1 week which included three wins against nationally-ranked Des Moines Area, Northwest has moved up from seventh to No. 6 in the latest NJCAA Division II rankings.

Now 13-3 overall, the Rangers are 8-1 against nationally-ranked opponents this season. Northwest is one of seven MACCC teams in this week's rankings, including No. 2 Pearl River, No. 4 Copiah-Lincoln, eighth-ranked Jones College, No. 11 Northeast, 17th-ranked East Central and No. 19 Holmes.

Additionally, East Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast are unranked but are receiving votes. NJCAA Region 23 foe LSU-Eunice is also ninth in the national rankings.

Parkland College tops the polls for the second consecutive week, followed by Louisburg (N.C.) at No. 3 and Murray State College (Okla.) at No. 5.

Northwest will begin conference play on Thursday at Southwest Mississippi. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1/3 P.M. in Summit.