The United States' volleyball community is still celebrating a long-awaited gold medal in the world championship, which the Americans won Sunday. That tournament gave today's college stars a chance to see how much higher the bar is set at the next level, which should inspire them. Here are five things to take note of this week in the collegiate world of kills, blocks and digs.
1. Can Kansas State challenge Texas?
It's already been a good week for Kansas State. But it could get even better.
The Wildcats are on a mini-roll, having won three matches in a row, including against in-state rival Kansas. Kansas State moved into the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll this week at No. 25, the Wildcats' first ranking since November 2012.
Kansas State redshirt sophomores Katie Reininger and Katie Brand were both honored by the Big 12 Monday.
Reininger, a middle blocker who started her career at Saint Mary's in California before transferring to Kansas State, was the league's offensive player of the week. Brand, a setter who was on the Big 12's all-freshman team last year, was the defensive player of the week.
So things are going pretty well right now for the Wildcats, 16-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12. But well enough for them to actually give Texas trouble?
We'll see Saturday, as the No. 2-ranked and undefeated Longhorns visit Manhattan, Kansas. First, though, K-State has to travel to the Lone Star State to face TCU on Wednesday.
2. Purdue's tougher road
Speaking of teams that have a chance to make a statement this weekend, let's turn to the current leader of the Big Ten: Purdue.
The Boilermakers, coming off back-to-back wins over Indiana, are the only team that's undefeated in Big Ten play at 6-0. But Purdue is fourth among the league's ranked teams in this week's AVCA poll; the Boilermakers are No. 14 behind No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 7 Penn State and No. 13 Nebraska.
What's with the ranking? It reflects that the early part of the league schedule has been very favorable for the Boilermakers. But that's about to change dramatically.
Six of Purdue's next seven opponents are ranked in this week's poll, starting with their match Friday against visiting Penn State. Purdue then hosts No. 22 Ohio State on Saturday.
3. Hard transition for Rutgers, Maryland
The aforementioned "easier" part of Purdue's Big Ten schedule thus far included the two newcomers to the league this season: Rutgers and Maryland.
Those schools were expected to make strong transitions to their new conference in some sports, but everybody knew that wouldn't be the case in volleyball. Maryland's last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2005. Since then, the Terps didn't finish better than seventh in the ACC. Rutgers' volleyball history is far worse, though; the school's lone NCAA appearance was in 1982.
The Big Ten is perennially one of the toughest and deepest leagues in this sport. For the Scarlet Knights and Terrapins, joining Big Ten volleyball is a little like trying to merge into traffic that's going 100 mph.
So far, Rutgers and Maryland are 0-6 in league play, as is Iowa. Which team will be the first to get a Big Ten victory? We'll bet on Maryland, which plays Rutgers back-to-back Oct. 21 and 25, and then hosts Iowa on Oct. 31.
4. Tobacco Road tussle
There are two teams unbeaten in ACC play at 6-0: No. 4 Florida State and No. 21 Duke. Behind them in the league standings is No. 11 North Carolina at 4-1. The Tar Heels' league loss came to the Seminoles, who are 17-0 overall.
All of which adds some spark to what's always a big showdown anyway, due to the rivalry. Duke is host to UNC on Sunday in a match televised by ESPNU (1 p.m. ET).
5. Keep an eye on Kentucky
We'll close with a different set of Wildcats: those from Lexington, Kentucky. They are ranked No. 12 and tied with No. 8 Florida atop the SEC standings at 6-0. Kentucky faces Georgia and LSU this weekend. If you're looking ahead, the Wildcats and Gators don't meet until mid-November.