This week had the potential to be a game-changer for the Nebraska Huskers women’s volleyball team! After trailing the Pittsburgh Panthers in the rankings for what feels like forever, the Big Red had their eyes set on that coveted top spot thanks to some stellar performances last week. With a lineup of ranked opponents on their schedule, victories would mean a leap over the Panthers and into the number one slot.

First up, the Huskers faced off against the No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers at their home base, Bob Devaney Sports Center. And let me tell you, they didn’t just show up; they throttled their opponents! Keeping the pressure on like a heavyweight champion, the Huskers battled through adversity and emerged victorious with a thrilling 3-2 set score.

Next on the docket was Rutgers, who came to town expecting a fight but instead found themselves on the receiving end of a swift 3-0 sweep. Talk about hitting your targets! But the Huskers weren’t done yet. They took their show on the road for back-to-back games on October 18 and 19, facing off against Michigan State and Ohio. And guess what? They maintained their dominance, clinching both matches with 3-0 victories. After such an impressive stretch, it seemed only natural for the Huskers to secure that top ranking, right?

Well, here’s the kicker: Nebraska did snag the number one spot in the first NCAA Committee Ranking of the year! But in the AVCA rankings, everything has stayed the same. The latest AVCA NCAA Women’s Volleyball chart has placed the Pittsburgh Panthers at the top. Meanwhile, the Huskers are still chasing, sitting in the second position. Additionally, the point board justifies the Pirates’ standing with 1508. A tremendous achievement after week 4! In the meantime, the Huskers have tried to stay in the competition with 1470 points. However, the Lincoln-based team currently leads the way in terms of wins and losses, with an 18-1 record. Yet, for the fourth time in a row, they have to settle for second place. So, what’s the issue?

The voting system, maybe! In the weeks, the Pittsburgh Pirates are having the cushion of votes. In the first week of October, they gained 61 votes—the highest among the squads. That splendid number had to work for their side, and it ultimately did. This time, the situation has not experienced many changes.

The Panthers are still flying with 50 votes, whereas Nebraska is reeling with 10 votes. In fact, the squads standing in the latest top-10 rankings have not gone through many changes. Only Wisconsin and Kansas have exchanged their seats. But does that entire standing hint at seeing no change in the upcoming days? Would the Nebraska Huskers still stay in the second position? A lot of questions are taking rounds. 

The victories in the NCAA lists stand for the Nebraska Huskers volleyball squad 

After the third week, the expectation had been to see everything go by the Nebraska Huskers’ side. The team led by John Cook had a remarkable week, starting strong and finishing phenomenally. Yet, the voting system in AVCA rankings has limited their chances of going to the top. Has the position hurt the Huskers’ motivations? No, certainly not. Why? In several charts published recently, the squad has reigned thoroughly. 

On Sunday (October 21), the NCAA D1 Women’s Volleyball Committee published its top 16 rankings and Huskers stood atop there. The Panthers had to taste the bitter pill there. Not just that, the squad topped another chart away from the court. On October 20, Lincoln Arneal, the Assistant Vice President of Policy and Leadership at the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, revealed some good news. 

In his X-handle, Arneal claimed that Nebraska had topped “The We Give Blood Drive”, a program run by the Big Ten Conference to minimize the acute shortage of blood in the blood banks throughout the nation. A noble job, indeed! This kind of recognition is just the kind of boost the Huskers need. But the big question is: will these achievements inspire the squad to finally claim the peak in the AVCA rankings? Only time will tell! The upcoming weeks will be crucial for the Nebraska Huskers, and fans can’t wait to see how they rise to the challenge.