BALTIMORE -- The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse squad, currently riding its longest winning streak since the 2000 season, has returned to the national rankings for the first time since the 2005 season.

The Blue Hens (5-3), who won their fourth straight game with a 16-15 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Towson Sunday, were picked No. 20 in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Top 20 poll announced late Monday. In addition, the Hens received votes in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Top 20 media poll announced Monday.

Delaware, led by head coach Kim Ciarrocca (at right), received votes in both polls for the first time since early last season and have returned to the IWLCA Top 20 for the first time since a No. 17 ranking in the May 1, 2005 poll.

The Blue Hens will take a four-game winning streak into their next outing, an Apr. 6 meeting at George Mason in Fairfax, VA followed by a visit to No. 6 James Madison Apr. 8. Delaware’s winning streak is the longest since a season-opening eight-game winning streak in 2000 when the Blue Hens advanced to the NCAA Tournament. All three of Delaware’s losses this season have come to teams (Penn State, Penn, and Rutgers) currently ranked in the top 20.

Northwestern is ranked No. 1 in both polls, earning 14 of the 15 first place votes in the IWLCA poll and 13 of the 14 first place votes in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse rankings.

In the IWLCA poll, North Carolina was picked No. 2, followed by Maryland, Duke (one first place vote), Virginia, James Madison, Georgetown, Syracuse, Princeton, Penn State, Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, Denver, Yale, Dartmouth, Rutgers, Connecticut, Vanderbilt, and Delaware.

In the Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll, Maryland was No. 2 with one first place vote followed by North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, James Madison, Georgetown, Syracuse, Princeton, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, Yale, Denver, Vanderbilt, Richmond, Rutgers, and Connecticut. Stanford, Delaware, and Holy Cross also received votes.

AGATE:

Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Poll for April 3: 1. Northwestern (7-1), 14 first place votes, 296 points; 2. North Carolina (10-1), 277; 3. Maryland (9-1), 271; 4. Duke (9-1), 1, 262; 5. Virginia (9-2), 244; 6. James Madison (6-2), 216; 7. Georgetown (6-3), 207; 8. Syracuse (6-4), 190; 9. Princeton (4-3), 177; 10. Penn State (7-2), 166; 11. Pennsylvania (8-1), 161; 12. Notre Dame (9-2), 133; 13. Johns Hopkins (6-4), 119; 14. Denver (10-2), 99; 15. Yale (8-3), 48; 16. Dartmouth (5-3), 74; 17. Rutgers (8-2), 48; 18. Connecticut (5-4), 44; 19. Vanderbilt (6-4), 41; 20. Delaware (5-3), 12; Other with votes: Richmond

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Poll for April 2: 1. Northwestern (7-1), 13, 279; 2. Maryland (9-1), 1, 265; 3. North Carolina (10-1), 254; 4. Duke (9-1), 238; 5. Virginia (9-2), 224; 6. James Madison (6-2), 208; 7. Georgetown (6-3), 194; 8. Syracuse (6-4), 172; 9. Princeton (4-3), 166; 10. Notre Dame (9-2), 156; 11. Penn State (7-2), 144; 12. Pennsylvania (8-1), 118; 13. Johns Hopkins (6-4), 106; 14. Dartmouth (5-3), 102; 15. Yale (8-3), 90; 16. Denver (10-2), 70; 17. Vanderbilt (6-4), 56; 18. Richmond (7-4), 36; 19. Rutgers (8-2), 29; 20. Connecticut (5-4), 16; Others with votes: Stanford, Delaware, Holy Cross.