With a month to go in the regular season, volleyball has a new No. 1 in an upset-filled week in the world of kills, blocks and digs.
1. Look who's back at No. 1
Preseason No. 1 Penn State (21-2) is the top team in the nation again behind a pair of victories over Ohio State (19-5). The Nittany Lions dropped just one set in knocking off the Buckeyes.
Both Penn State and USC (23-1) got 27 first-place votes in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, but the Nittany Lions edged out the Trojans in points by 26.
USC was beaten at Washington on Friday; the Huskies moved from No. 5 to No. 3. Minnesota (19-3) also received two first-place votes. Ohio State is No. 12.
Penn State redshirt senior Aiyana Whitney, now playing in the middle, combined for 22 kills and 11 blocks in the two matches. She followed up her career-best .562 hitting percentage on Wednesday by hitting .550 on Friday.
Redshirt freshman Bryanna Weiskircher earned the Big Ten setter of the week award, her first.
The Nittany Lions reached the 20-win mark for the 39th straight season. Penn State's lone two losses this season came in five sets against Nebraska and at Northwestern.
Penn State has its next four on the road, including a Nov. 15 date with Minnesota. The Golden Gophers extended Penn State to five in the teams' first meeting on Sept. 26.
2. And then there were none
USC was the last unbeaten team to fall this season. The Trojans had won their first 22, including a 3-1 over Washington on Oct. 4. It was the longest streak for USC volleyball since the program compiled 52 straight from 2002 to 2004.
While the Trojans held the edge in blocks, Washington held USC to its lowest hitting percentage of the season (.147).
Senior libero Cassie Strickland had a match-high 17 digs for Washington (for more on Strickland, see espnW on Wednesday). Outside hitters Tia Scambray (13 kills, 12 digs) and Courtney Schwan (13 kills, 16 assists, six digs) did not surrender an ace to the Trojans. That's bragging rights considering Samantha Bricio's serve is considered the best in the nation.
Washington earned another top-10 win on Sunday, halting UCLA's win streak at eight. The Huskies earned the season sweep over UCLA, dropping just one set. Washington has won 27 straight against PAC-12 foes inside Alaska Airlines Arena.
3. Hook 'em Horn(ed) Frogs, and speaking of upsets ...
It was a night TCU won't forget.
The Horned Frogs (16-6) didn't just beat a Texas team ranked No. 2 last Wednesday, they swept them, holding the Longhorns (19-2) to their lowest hitting percentage of the season at .183. Texas' first loss in the Big 12 this year was also TCU's first victory over a top-10 opponent in history.
Credit Sarita Mikals for a double-double 11 kills and 12 digs along with Ashley Smith (eight kills) and Ashleigh Martin and Regan McGuire (seven kills apiece). Martin was named Big 12 rookie of the week.
It was the first win for TCU over Texas in 10 matches. TCU had only ever taken one set from Texas previously, and that was in 2013. The Longhorns had won 19 straight road games in the Big 12.
Said Jill Kramer, in her first year as director of volleyball at TCU, "I love firsts. I just do. It is why I came to school here because it was the first team and there was a lot of history that was going to be made."
Texas (19-2) dropped to No. 5 in the poll. TCU remains unranked. The Horned Frogs followed up their biggest win with a loss to Kansas State.
Meanwhile in the SEC, gritty Texas A&M knocked off No. 20 Kentucky in four sets. The Aggies hadn't won a set in Lexington (a string of 12 straight) since 1986 until they took the first set 30-28. The Aggies overcame a nine-point deficit to take the third set 25-23. Texas A&M won its sixth straight with a sweep of Tennessee on Sunday.
In the ACC last Friday, 17th-ranked Florida State dropped a match to Pitt, and 22nd-ranked Louisville lost to North Carolina, meaning the pair is still atop the conference with one loss apiece on course to meet on Nov. 15.
4. Who's streaking now?
Arkansas State (22-1) has the longest win streak in the nation, a string of 18 straight since a Sept. 5 loss to Missouri. It's the best start for the Red Wolves since the 1988 season when the team finished 41-1. They are 11-0 in the Sun Belt.
Junior libero Markie Schaedig is the Sun Belt's defensive student-athlete of the week.
Outside hitter Carlisa May of Lee's Summit, Missouri, has won seven Sun Belt freshman of the week awards this year, which keeps extending her school record. Her teammate Jessica Uke had the record after picking up three freshman of the week awards a season ago.
Arkansas State concludes the regular season with back-to-back games against Appalachian State (19-4), which has won 15 straight and is 12-0 in the conference.
5. Who's filling the stands?
Sixth-ranked Hawaii (20-1) is the national attendance leader through games played through Oct. 28 with 116,318 fans watching 17 games. The Rainbow Wahine drew 7,922 for Senior Night on Sunday.
Nebraska leads NCAA Division I in average attendance (8,232). Remember, the Cornhuskers will host the final four.
Penn State, Texas and Wisconsin round out the top five.
In addition to Hawaii and teams in the Big Ten and Big 12, Colorado State checks in at No. 8, Creighton at No. 10, Louisville at No. 13 and Wichita State at No. 14.
Missouri is the top SEC team at No. 15.