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Tyler Junior College has three teams — including two at No. 1 — among the top 10 in NJCAA polls, the organization announced on Wednesday.

The fall preseason polls for four sports — men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and football — were released from the NJCAA offices in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The TJC men’s and women’s soccer teams, both defending national champions, are ranked No. 1 in Division I soccer, while the volleyball team, which finished fourth at the national tournament in 2017, is ranked No. 6 in Division I. 

APACHE SOCCER

The Apaches soccer team, coached by Steve Clements, will try to make it three straight national titles this season and seven overall. Clements has led TJC to national championships in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017, and two runners-up spots, 2013 and 2015.

TJC is No. 1, followed by Yavapai (Arizona), Monroe College (New York), Pima (Arizona), Eastern Florida State, Iowa Western, St. Louis, Daytona State (Florida), Mercer County (New Jersey) and Illinois Central.

Laredo is the only other Texas school ranked, and the Palominos are No. 17. Both Coastal Bend and Ranger received votes.

The Apaches, who are 47-2 the last two seasons, open their schedule Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Jacksonville College, beginning at 7 p.m. The home opener at Pat Hartley Field is against Angelina at 7 p.m. Aug. 31.

The men’s national soccer tournament is Nov. 12-17 at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Florida. 

APACHE LADIES SOCCER

The Apache Ladies soccer team, coached by Corey Rose, will be seeking their fourth national title after winning crowns in 2009, 2011 and 2017.

TJC, which has a two-year record of 46-4-1, is ranked No. 1, followed by Laramie County (Wyoming), ASA Brooklyn (New York), Eastern Florida State, Phoenix, Navarro, Daytona State (Florida), Harford (Maryland), Iowa Western and Monroe Community College (New York).

Tyler and Navarro are the only two Texas teams ranked. Hill College received votes.

The Apache Ladies open their season Aug. 24 and 25 in Midwest City, Oklahoma. TJC meets Rose State College of Midwest City at 6 p.m. Aug. 24 and Butler (Kansas) at 4 p.m. Aug. 25.

The women’s national soccer tournament is Nov. 12-17 at Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Alabama. 

APACHE LADIES VOLLEYBALL

The Apache Ladies volleyball team, coached by Brandi Hood, will be seeking a third-straight national tournament appearance and seventh overall. TJC’s previous national tourney appearances were in 2002, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

The NJCAA top 10 poll includes: 1, Miami Dade (Florida); 2, Southern Idaho; 3, Iowa Western; 4, Western Nebraska; 5, New Mexico Military; 6, TJC; 7, Polk State (Florida); 8, Mineral Area (Missouri); 9, Seward County (Kansas); and 10, Hill (Texas).

Other Texas teams ranked are: 11, Panola; 19, Trinity Valley; and 20, Blinn.

The Apache Ladies open their regular season on Friday at Brookhaven College in Dallas.

TJC will host the Rose City Classic on Aug. 24 and 25. On Aug. 24, the Apache Ladies will play Temple (3 p.m.) and Missouri State-West Plains (7 p.m.). On Aug. 25, TJC will meet Wharton County (2 p.m.) and Hill (6 p.m.).

The NJCAA national volleyball tournament is scheduled Nov. 15-17 at Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kansas. 

FOOTBALL

Four Southwest Junior College Football Conference teams are ranked in the NJCAA top 20, led by Trinity Valley Community College at No. 7.

Other league teams include: No. 8, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; No. 11, Blinn; and No. 18, Navarro.

East Mississippi leads the poll and is followed by Iowa Western, Arizona Western, Snow (Utah), Independence (Kansas), Northwest Mississippi, TVCC, NEO, Jones County (Mississippi) and Garden City (Kansas).

The NJCAA Football Poll is conducted by a 17-member committee featuring a representative from each of the seven districts, two annually rotating at-large voters, and one representative from the seven conferences along with a representative from the independent schools in which the highest and lowest vote for each team is dropped.

TJC, which was as high as No. 2 last year, is not ranked to begin the season.

The first regular-season polls for all the sports will be released on Sept. 5.