We're down to two undefeated teams in the nation, Penn State drops another and who's making noise in the ACC? Here's our weekly look around the volleyball world.
1. How good is the Big Ten, you ask?
Consider that nine of the conference's 14 teams are ranked among the RPI's top 25, starting with Nebraska at No. 2, Ohio State at 5, Penn State at 9 and Minnesota at 10.
Only one undefeated team remains in the Big Ten and it's ... Purdue, tied for 18th in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, with a 6-0 conference record.
The Boilermakers (15-2) defeated Indiana twice in four days last week to stay perfect in the Big Ten, but the road ahead is daunting, starting with Friday-Saturday games at No. 7 Ohio State and at No. 5 Penn State, respectively.
"Everybody's pretty good in this league," Purdue coach Dave Shondell said. "I think our team is playing with a lot of confidence, and we can compete with anybody in America. It will all come down to toughness -- toughness and execution down the stretch -- and if we do those things well, we can beat anybody."
A year ago, the Boilermakers were 6-0 in the conference but dropped eight of their final 14 matches to finish fifth in the Big Ten and missed out on the NCAA tournament with a 22-10 record.
Meanwhile, back-to-back NCAA champ Penn State (15-2) dropped its second five-setter in nine days, falling at Northwestern 3-2 on Saturday. The Nittany Lions, who dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 in the poll, lost to Nebraska on Oct. 2.
Noteworthy about the Wildcats' victory: It was just the ninth for Northwestern (11-6) over Penn State and its first in the series since Nov. 23, 2002. All but four of Penn State's 28 consecutive wins over Northwestern in the interim were 3-0.
Nittany Lions fans needn't panic if history repeats itself. Almost exactly a year ago, Penn State lost to Nebraska, won a pair and fell to Illinois. From there, the Nittany Lions went on to win their next 20, capped by their seventh NCAA title.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, No. 23 Michigan survived four match points against Iowa to improve to 3-0 in five-set matches, and keep an eye on surging Ohio State.
The Buckeyes (16-2) defeated Northwestern and Illinois in road matches behind Audra Appold, Big Ten freshman of the week this week and last (more on Appold on Wednesday).
After dropping its opening match, Ohio State has been on a roll, losing only once in a five-setter to Minnesota. Its No. 7 ranking is the best for the program since 2004.
2. Over in the SEC
No. 17 Florida, ranked No. 2 a month ago, rebounded from three straight losses with its cleanest match of the season, a sweep of Texas A&M. Sophomore middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan dominated with 18 kills, a season high; the Gators recorded just six attack errors and three service errors. The Gators followed up with a sweep of Auburn on Sunday.
No. 20 Kentucky (12-5) is still sitting pretty atop the SEC at 5-0, the lone undefeated team in the conference after a Missouri loss on Sunday. The Wildcats knocked off Arkansas for their eighth straight win behind senior setter Morgan Bergren's double-double of 32 assists and 11 digs. Alabama upset the Tigers (15-2) on Sunday behind 44 kills from Krystal Rivers and Kat Hudson.
The Gators and Wildcats have a date in Lexington on Sunday.
One other conference note: Tennessee upset Arkansas (13-4) on Sunday despite 26 kills from redshirt junior Pilar Victoria. The Razorbacks, who dropped out of the poll this week, finally return home this weekend after playing seven of their past eight on the road.
3. Tar Heels on a roll
Things were looking rosy for North Carolina ... until the Tar Heels started playing games. The team's preseason No. 7 ranking was the best in school history, following a season when North Carolina advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time, falling to Texas.
But after the Tar Heels won just one of their first six matches, they dropped out of the poll. Guess what? Friday's victory over Virginia was their fourth straight sweep in the ACC, and for the first time this season, North Carolina has a winning record at 8-7.
One can't say that the Tar Heels, receiving votes in this week's poll, were losing to chumps in the early going, however. Those five losses: USC, Brigham Young, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Italian junior national team. Victories over top-25 foes Stanford and Michigan followed.
Stayed tuned for a showdown Friday when the ACC's two best, North Carolina and No. 18 Florida State, duke it out at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
4. Teams under the radar
Arkansas State, receiving votes in the poll, is 17-1 with an 8-0 record in the Sun Belt. Arkansas State is off its best start since 1996, a mark that includes 10 victories on the road. Missouri is the only team to defeat the Red Wolves, who hold a No. 18 RPI. Credit goes to outside hitter Carlisa May, already Sun Belt freshman of the week four times, junior setter Mallory Warrington and redshirt junior Darby Graff, a transfer from Texas A&M.
Murray State is 16-1, with its only loss coming to Washington, and tied the school record for consecutive home wins at 14 with a straight-sets defeat Saturday of SIU Edwardsville.
Speaking of the RPI, USC, Nebraska and Texas are 1-2-3. The Longhorns, ranked second, also received one first-place vote in the poll.
5. And then there were two
No. 1 USC and No. 9 Kansas are the lone undefeated teams in volleyball.
The Trojans dropped the first set of a match for the first time this season against Colorado but prevailed in five, boosted by 17 kills from Samantha Bricio. With 1,729 career kills, Bricio is 70 shy of moving into No. 2 on USC's all-time kill list.
The 18-0 start is the best in school history.
Kansas (17-0) defeated Iowa State on Saturday despite allowing the Cyclones to record a hitting percentage over .200, only the second team to do so against the Jayhawks this season. Kansas coach Ray Bechard said the Cyclones, swinging at a .232 clip, were the most balanced squad his team has faced thus far.
Jayhawks fans have shown their appreciation, packing in 1,500 or more for Kansas' past four home matches, including a season-high 1,565 against Kansas State.