The latest AVCA volleyball rankings keep No. 1 Nebraska unbeaten at 23-0 with all 63 first-place votes, while the race behind the Huskers tightened. Pitt (21-1), Louisville (22-2), Florida (19-2) and SMU (18-4) round out the top five in the poll released after games through Nov. 1, 2026.
Quick summary
- Nebraska is 23-0 and No. 1 with 63 first-place votes; Pitt is No. 2 at 21-1.
- Tennessee had the biggest top-10 slide, from No. 6 to No. 10 (16-5).
- Penn State climbed from No. 13 to No. 11, and Washington rose from No. 20 to No. 18.
- Nebraska-Washington and Wisconsin-Penn State are on the Sunday, Nov. 8 schedule.
AVCA Volleyball Rankings: The Top 10
Here is how the top 10 looks in the NCAA.com listing of the AVCA Top 25, with each team’s record and last week’s spot.
| No. | Team | Record | Prev. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | 23-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Pitt | 21-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Louisville | 22-2 | 3 |
| 4 | Florida | 19-2 | 4 |
| 5 | SMU | 18-4 | 5 |
| 6 | Kentucky | 16-5 | 7 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 16-6 | 8 |
| 8 | BYU | 18-1 | 9 |
| 9 | Arizona State | 18-4 | 10 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 16-5 | 6 |
What Changed in the Poll
The top five did not move. Nebraska, Pitt, Louisville, Florida and SMU held their spots from the previous poll, so the real movement happened just below them. Kentucky, Wisconsin, BYU and Arizona State each moved up one place, and Tennessee absorbed the drop from No. 6 to No. 10.
Outside the top 10, Penn State (17-5) moved from No. 13 to No. 11, and Texas went from No. 14 to No. 13. Purdue slid from No. 11 to No. 14 at 14-7. Washington (17-4) rose two spots as well, from No. 20 to No. 18, so the Huskies and Nittany Lions share the biggest jump of the week.
Which Teams Have the Best Records
Nebraska is the only unbeaten team in the poll. BYU is the most interesting number in the top 10: the Cougars sit at 18-1, one loss better than Louisville’s two and well ahead of the 4- and 5-loss teams around them. Pitt also has just one loss at 21-1.
At the other end, the poll rewards résumé over record in places. Texas is No. 13 at 12-7, and Texas A&M is No. 17 at 14-9, the most losses of any ranked team. Texas A&M has now been ranked for 28 consecutive weeks, according to BVM Sports’ poll tracker.
Conference Breakdown of the Top 25
Depth is the story of this poll. Every one of the four power conferences has at least five teams ranked, and the top 10 alone includes three ACC teams, three SEC teams, two Big Ten teams and two Big 12 teams by our count.
Counting each ranked team’s conference, the Big Ten leads the poll with eight teams: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Oregon, Purdue, Washington, Minnesota and Indiana. The SEC has six (Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt), the Big 12 has six (BYU, Arizona State, Kansas, TCU, Baylor and Colorado), and the ACC has five (Pitt, Louisville, SMU, North Carolina and Stanford). Browse every league on RallyFuel’s Big Ten and Big 12 conference pages.
Games That Could Shake Up the Next AVCA Volleyball Rankings
Two ranked-versus-ranked matchups are on the schedule for Sunday, Nov. 8. Washington, now No. 18, meets No. 1 Nebraska, and No. 7 Wisconsin plays No. 11 Penn State. Both are Big Ten matches, and the Wisconsin-Penn State result could decide who owns the stronger Big Ten résumé in the next poll. For the full weekend slate, see our guide to college volleyball games this week.
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Washington vs Nebraska on RallyFuel
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Wisconsin vs Penn State on RallyFuel
How to Read the Rankings Before Tournament Time
The AVCA poll is a snapshot of how coaches see the field, and it is not the same thing as the NCAA tournament seeding. With a month of regular season left, the teams with the most to gain are the ones with ranked opponents still ahead. A team like Penn State, climbing into the top 11, can move quickly with a win over a top-10 opponent, while a team in the middle of the pack, such as Kansas at No. 15 (16-5) or TCU at No. 16 (17-5), needs wins that matter against teams above them.
Want a broader look at the sport this season? Our women’s basketball preseason rankings show how the same ranking logic plays out on the hardwood, and the RallyFuel NIL Score leaderboard tracks fan engagement for schools across every sport.
FAQ
Who is No. 1 in the AVCA volleyball rankings?
Nebraska is No. 1 at 23-0 with all 63 first-place votes in the poll through games on Nov. 1, 2026.
Which team moved up the most?
Washington (No. 20 to No. 18) and Penn State (No. 13 to No. 11) each rose two spots, the largest climbs in the top 18.
Which conference has the most ranked teams?
By our count of conference affiliations, the Big Ten has eight of the 25 teams, ahead of the SEC and Big 12 with six each and the ACC with five.
Is the AVCA poll the same as NCAA tournament seeding?
No. The AVCA Top 25 is a poll, while the NCAA selection committee builds the tournament field and seeds separately.
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