Women’s Volleyball Predictions, Oct. 15–24: Nebraska Hosts Purdue, Tennessee Meets Kentucky

Nebraska is the only unbeaten team left in Division I, and this weekend it hosts a Purdue team that climbed three spots last week. That’s the headliner of a ten-day stretch on the RallyFuel women’s volleyball board, from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Saturday, Oct. 24, with ranked teams in action almost every day.

The Huskers (17-0) received all 63 first-place votes in Monday’s AVCA poll for the first time this season. That happened because No. 2 Pittsburgh (15-1) finally lost, falling to SMU last week. Lower in the poll, Texas slid to No. 12 after getting swept by unranked Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt debuted at No. 24 after knocking off Florida.

Every vote earns +20 points and helps fuel your team’s NIL momentum. Each school name links to its RallyFuel page, and every match links straight to its prediction card, so you can vote as you read.

Match of the week: No. 13 Purdue at No. 1 Nebraska (Sat., Oct. 17)

Nebraska has swept every Big Ten opponent it has faced this season, including then-No. 7 Wisconsin last Saturday. The Huskers visit Northwestern on Thursday, then host Purdue on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.

Purdue (10-5) arrives hot. Three straight losses to ranked teams had dropped the Boilermakers to No. 16; a bounce-back week lifted them to No. 13. They also have a Thursday match against Iowa, so they’ll play their second match in three days in one of the toughest buildings in the sport.

Our vote: Nebraska. The question isn’t whether the Huskers win but whether Purdue can steal a set. Nebraska in three is the likeliest result; Nebraska in four if the Boilermakers’ serving shows up. Cast your vote on the Nebraska vs. Purdue card →

Thursday, Oct. 15

A lighter night, but four ranked teams are on the board.

• Iowa vs. No. 13 Purdue — Purdue’s tune-up before Lincoln. Our vote: Purdue. Vote →
• Kansas State vs. No. 17 Kansas — The Sunflower Showdown, volleyball edition. Kansas (11-4) has climbed two spots in a week. Our vote: Kansas. Vote →
• Illinois vs. No. 22 Michigan State — Our upset alert. Illinois led everyone outside the top 25 with 114 poll points. Michigan State (14-2) has the better record, but this one could go five. Our vote: Michigan State, narrowly. Vote →
• Iowa State vs. No. 25 Colorado — Colorado (12-4) is clinging to the last ranked spot. Our vote: Colorado. Vote →
• No. 8 Arizona State vs. Arizona — The Sun Devils, up three spots this week, are already listed as awaiting a final score. Check the result →

Nebraska also plays at Northwestern on Thursday.

Friday, Oct. 16

Friday is the deepest night of the weekend, with five top-10 teams in action and one ranked-vs-ranked SEC matchup.

• No. 19 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 Florida — The only ranked-vs-ranked match of the night. A&M (10-7) fell seven spots this week; Florida (13-2) dropped two after Vanderbilt’s upset. Both need a rebound. Our vote: Florida. Vote →
• Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Kentucky — The Sooners swept Texas last Sunday and drew 36 poll points without cracking the top 25. Kentucky (13-3) is the better team, but this is the trap game of the weekend. Our vote: Kentucky. Vote →
• No. 2 Pittsburgh vs. Florida State — First match for Pitt since losing its unbeaten record. Our vote: Pitt. Vote →
• No. 3 Louisville vs. Duke — Louisville (16-2) has been steady at the top of the ACC. Our vote: Louisville. Vote →
• No. 12 Texas vs. Auburn — Texas (8-6) needs a clean win after the Oklahoma sweep. Our vote: Texas. Vote →
• No. 10 TCU vs. Texas Tech — TCU (14-3) in an in-state Big 12 tilt. Our vote: TCU. Vote →
• Notre Dame vs. No. 23 North Carolina — UNC (11-3) is the only ranked team in the match. Our vote: North Carolina. Vote →
• Villanova vs. Creighton — Creighton is just outside the poll (31 points). Our vote: Creighton. Vote →

Also worth a look: Houston vs. UCF, Ole Miss vs. Georgia, and the Ivy League slate, led by Harvard vs. Princeton and Yale vs. Columbia.

Saturday, Oct. 17

Beyond Nebraska–Purdue, Saturday brings another ranked Big Ten team and service-academy bragging rights.

• USC vs. No. 15 Penn State — Penn State (12-4) jumped three spots this week; USC is receiving votes but sits outside the top 25. Our vote: Penn State. Vote →
• Iowa State vs. Utah — Utah drew 76 poll points, second-most among unranked teams, and Iowa State plays its second Big 12 match in three days after facing Colorado. Our vote: Utah. Vote →
• Georgetown vs. Creighton — Creighton’s second Big East match of the weekend. Our vote: Creighton. Vote →
• Navy vs. Army — No rankings at stake, just a full year of bragging rights. Our vote: your call. Vote →

Across the mid-majors, many conferences run Friday–Saturday doubles against the same opponent, such as Dayton vs. George Washington, Fordham vs. Saint Louis and Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee. Split your votes if you think the loser of night one adjusts.

Sunday, Oct. 18

Sunday may be the best day of the whole stretch: three ranked-vs-ranked matches and seven top-10 teams on court. Rankings below are from the Oct. 12 poll; the next one drops Monday.

• No. 17 Kansas vs. No. 8 Arizona State — Kansas (11-4) gets a second ranked test in four days after the Sunflower Showdown. Arizona State (13-3) was one of the poll’s biggest risers. Our vote: Arizona State. Vote →
• No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 23 North Carolina — UNC plays Notre Dame on Friday first. Louisville (16-2) has lost only twice all year. Our vote: Louisville. Vote →
• No. 20 Washington vs. No. 18 Indiana — The closest call on the board. Washington is 13-2; Indiana is 10-5 against a tougher slate and dropped three spots this week. Our vote: Washington. Vote →
• No. 2 Pittsburgh vs. Miami — Pitt’s second match of the weekend. Our vote: Pitt. Vote →
• No. 5 SMU vs. Florida State — The team that handed Pitt its first loss. Our vote: SMU. Vote →
• Iowa vs. No. 6 Wisconsin — Wisconsin (11-5) moved up a spot despite the Nebraska sweep. Our vote: Wisconsin. Vote →
• Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Tennessee — The Sooners’ second top-10 opponent in three days, after Kentucky. Our vote: Tennessee. Vote →
• No. 10 TCU vs. Baylor — Baylor drew 62 poll points, third-most among unranked teams. Upset watch. Our vote: TCU. Vote →
• No. 11 Oregon vs. Rutgers — Oregon (14-2) climbed two spots this week. Our vote: Oregon. Vote →
• No. 16 Stanford vs. NC State — Our vote: Stanford. Vote →
• No. 19 Texas A&M vs. Auburn — Our vote: Texas A&M. Vote →
• No. 24 Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State — The newly ranked Commodores (13-2) try to stay that way. Our vote: Vanderbilt. Vote →

Also worth a look: UCLA vs. Ohio State, Illinois vs. Michigan, Notre Dame vs. Duke and LSU vs. Georgia.

Monday, Oct. 19

A quiet night with two SWAC matches on the board, and the new AVCA poll arrives at midday.

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Texas Southern — Vote →
• Alabama A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State — Vote →

Tuesday, Oct. 20

No ranked teams play Tuesday, but six mid-major matches give you easy points while the new poll settles in.

• Miami (OH) vs. Ball State — A MAC midweek match. Vote →
• UT Arlington vs. Tarleton State — A conference matchup between North Texas neighbors. Vote →
• Wright State vs. Northern Kentucky — Vote →
• Gardner-Webb vs. North Carolina Central — Vote →
• Le Moyne vs. Siena — Vote →
• Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Binghamton — Vote →

Wednesday, Oct. 21

One match matters most midweek: two top-10 SEC teams meet on a Wednesday night.

• No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Kentucky — Kentucky (13-3) and Tennessee (12-3) both face Oklahoma the weekend before, so the Sooners will tell us a lot. Our vote: Kentucky. Vote →
• South Florida vs. Florida Atlantic — An in-state American matchup. Vote →

The rest of Wednesday’s board: Austin Peay vs. Central Arkansas, Lindenwood vs. SIUE, Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M, East Texas A&M vs. Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State vs. Lamar.

Thursday, Oct. 22

Nebraska is back in action five days after Purdue, and two Big Ten West Coast teams head east.

• No. 1 Nebraska vs. UCLA — UCLA is receiving votes (22 points) but has yet to crack the poll. Our vote: Nebraska. Vote →
• Iowa vs. USC — Both teams come off ranked opponents the weekend before (Iowa faces Purdue and Wisconsin; USC faces Penn State). Our vote: USC. Vote →
• Cincinnati vs. Kansas State — A Big 12 midweek match with no rankings at stake. Our vote: your call. Vote →

The rest of Thursday’s board includes Belmont vs. Murray State, William & Mary vs. Hofstra, Southern Miss vs. Arkansas State, Troy vs. South Alabama and Omaha vs. North Dakota State.

Friday, Oct. 23

The biggest Friday of the stretch: two ranked-vs-ranked Big Ten matches and 13 ranked teams in action.

• No. 15 Penn State vs. No. 11 Oregon — Two of last week’s climbers. Oregon (14-2) has the better record. Our vote: Oregon. Vote →
• No. 13 Purdue vs. No. 21 Minnesota — Purdue’s third match in nine days, after Iowa and Nebraska. Minnesota is 9-5. Our vote: Purdue. Vote →
• Georgia vs. No. 19 Texas A&M — Our vote: Texas A&M. Vote →
• No. 7 Florida vs. LSU — Our vote: Florida. Vote →
• Georgia Tech vs. No. 2 Pittsburgh — Our vote: Pitt. Vote →
• Florida State vs. No. 3 Louisville — Our vote: Louisville. Vote →
• Clemson vs. No. 5 SMU — Our vote: SMU. Vote →
• Duke vs. No. 16 Stanford — Our vote: Stanford. Vote →
• Ohio State vs. No. 18 Indiana — Our vote: Indiana. Vote →
• Rutgers vs. No. 22 Michigan State — Our vote: Michigan State. Vote →
• No. 23 North Carolina vs. Cal — Our vote: North Carolina. Vote →
• Maryland vs. Illinois — Illinois has been knocking on the poll’s door all month. Our vote: Illinois. Vote →
• Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma — Another SEC test for the Sooners after Kentucky and Tennessee. Our vote: Oklahoma. Vote →
• Creighton vs. Providence — Our vote: Creighton. Vote →

Also worth a look: Miami vs. Notre Dame, Alabama vs. Arkansas, South Carolina vs. Missouri, Texas Tech vs. UCF and Villanova vs. St. John’s.

Saturday, Oct. 24

A lighter Power Four slate than Friday, but it carries the last ranked-vs-ranked match of the stretch.

• No. 14 BYU vs. No. 8 Arizona State — BYU (13-1) has lost only once all season; Arizona State (13-3) has played the tougher schedule, with Kansas the weekend before. Our vote: Arizona State, narrowly. Vote →
• Ohio State vs. No. 11 Oregon — The Ducks’ second match of the weekend, after Penn State. Our vote: Oregon. Vote →
• Iowa vs. UCLA — UCLA’s second Big Ten road match of the week, after Nebraska. Our vote: UCLA. Vote →
• Rutgers vs. Illinois — Our vote: Illinois. Vote →

The Big East fills out the evening with Marquette vs. Butler, Georgetown vs. St. John’s, Villanova vs. Seton Hall and DePaul vs. Xavier. Out west, look for Gonzaga vs. San Diego State and Boise State vs. Colorado State.

Our votes at a glance

Rankings and records are from the AVCA poll released Oct. 12; the Oct. 19 poll may reshuffle next week’s numbers.

Cast your votes on RallyFuel

Disagree with us? Prove it. Head to the Women’s Volleyball predictions board on RallyFuel, choose a date, and vote for a winner in every match. Each vote earns +20 points, and every point fuels your team’s NIL momentum on the leaderboards.

1. Open Predictions and select Women’s Volleyball.
2. Choose a day from the date bar.
3. Tap the team you think wins, and leave a comment to make your case.

Playing on the go? Get the RallyFuel app on the App Store or Google Play.