Last updated: October 31, 2026
The AVCA volleyball rankings still start and end with Nebraska. The Huskers held No. 1 in the Week 9 AVCA Top 25 on Oct. 26 with all 63 first-place votes, while Tennessee, SMU and Penn State climbed and Kentucky slid after a sweep at Texas A&M. Here is the full top 10, the biggest movers and what to watch as the regular season heads into November.
Quick summary
- No. 1: Nebraska, a unanimous choice with all 63 first-place votes.
- Biggest risers: Tennessee (up 3 to No. 6), Penn State (up 3 to No. 13), SMU and BYU (both up 2).
- Biggest drops: Kentucky (down 3 to No. 7), TCU (down 3 to No. 16) and Stanford (down 3 to No. 18).
- New to the poll: Michigan State at No. 25, replacing Colorado.
AVCA Top 10: Week 9 (Oct. 26, 2026)
- Nebraska (63 first-place votes)
- Pitt
- Louisville
- Florida
- SMU
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Wisconsin
- BYU
- Arizona State
Source: Sports Illustrated.
Nebraska’s grip on No. 1
Nebraska has been No. 1 in the AVCA poll all season. By Oct. 12 the Huskers were 17-0, the only unbeaten team in Division I, after sweeping every Big Ten opponent they had faced, including then-No. 7 Wisconsin, KOLN/KGIN reported. That week brought the first unanimous No. 1 vote of the season, and they had all 63 first-place votes again on Oct. 26.
Nebraska draws some of the biggest crowds in college volleyball, which is part of why Husker players have some of the strongest followings in the sport.
The biggest movers
Rising
- Tennessee jumped three spots, from No. 9 to No. 6.
- Penn State climbed from No. 16 to No. 13 after wins over Oregon and Indiana.
- SMU moved from No. 7 to No. 5. The Mustangs handed Pitt a loss earlier in October.
- BYU rose from No. 11 to No. 9.
- Kansas moved up two spots to No. 15 after a sweep at TCU, and Texas A&M rose two to No. 17.
Falling
- Kentucky fell from No. 4 to No. 7 after Texas A&M swept the Wildcats.
- TCU slipped to No. 16 after the sweep by Kansas.
- Stanford fell to No. 18, and Wisconsin and Arizona State each dropped two spots.
The SEC’s big week
Three of the top seven teams, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky, come from the SEC, with Texas A&M climbing to No. 17. The Aggies’ sweep of Kentucky reshuffled the middle of the poll. With the conference race tight, every SEC weekend in November could move the rankings.
How the AVCA poll works
The AVCA Top 25 is the coaches’ poll for Division I women’s volleyball, run by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. A panel of coaches ranks teams each week during the season, and a team at No. 1 on every ballot is a unanimous No. 1, as Nebraska is now with 63 first-place votes. The poll doesn’t pick the NCAA tournament field, but it’s the best weekly snapshot of where teams stand, and it often previews which programs will host early-round matches.
Conference picture
The top 10 is spread across the Big Ten (Nebraska, Wisconsin), the ACC (Pitt, Louisville, SMU), the SEC (Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky) and the Big 12 (BYU, Arizona State). That balance means conference play in November will decide a lot of the seeding at the top of the bracket.
Vote on this weekend’s matches
Make your prediction for the top-ranked teams’ matches this weekend on RallyFuel:
- 🗳️ Oct. 31: No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 25 Michigan State
- 🗳️ Oct. 31: No. 13 Penn State vs. Purdue
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 2 Pitt vs. NC State
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 3 Louisville vs. Georgia Tech
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 5 SMU vs. Wake Forest
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 6 Tennessee vs. Missouri
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 8 Wisconsin vs. UCLA
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 10 Arizona State vs. Houston
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 15 Kansas vs. Iowa State
- 🗳️ Nov. 1: No. 17 Texas A&M vs. Texas
What to watch in November
- Can anyone beat Nebraska? The Huskers are the clear favorite, but the Big Ten schedule still has road tests left.
- The ACC race: Pitt and Louisville sit at No. 2 and No. 3, setting up a conference fight between two national contenders.
- Seeding: The NCAA tournament field is set after the regular season, so every ranked win now shapes seeding.
Make your predictions for upcoming matches on RallyFuel predictions, and see last week’s slate in our women’s volleyball predictions for Oct. 23-27. For the players driving these teams, read top college volleyball athletes to watch.
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FAQ
Who is No. 1 in college volleyball?
Nebraska is No. 1 in the Oct. 26, 2026 AVCA Top 25, with all 63 first-place votes.
Who is in the AVCA top 5?
Nebraska, Pitt, Louisville, Florida and SMU make up the top five in the Week 9 AVCA poll.
Is Nebraska volleyball undefeated?
Nebraska was 17-0 and the only undefeated Division I team as of Oct. 12, 2026, when it became the unanimous No. 1.
Which teams moved up the most in the AVCA poll?
Tennessee and Penn State each climbed three spots, to No. 6 and No. 13, while SMU, BYU, Kansas and Texas A&M each rose two.
