For the first time this season, the defending champions did not fall in the rankings.

Penn State women’s volleyball moved up to No. 17 in the latest AVCA Poll released Monday afternoon. After starting the season as the No. 2 team in the country, the Nittany Lions had fallen in every single released poll, going down all the way to No. 19. However, they rose two spots in this week’s rankings for the first time this season.

This rise came after the blue and white upset the previously ranked No. 7 Wisconsin in their annual White Out match and beat Northwestern last week. This was the first time this season that the Nittany Lions beat a Top-10 opponent. They have now won three straight matches since losing to No. 1 Nebraska at the beginning of October. Along with Penn State and No.1 Nebraska, the Big Ten was also represented by No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 12 Purdue, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 23 UCLA, and No. 25 USC.

Penn State will head on its West Coast road trip, where it will take on Washington at 10 p.m. on Friday, October 17. It will also take on Oregon at 10:30 p.m. the following day, and both matches will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

About the Author

Fernando Martinez

Fernando was a writer for Onward State who majored in broadcast journalism with minors in Spanish and sports studies. During his time on staff, he covered both men’s and women’s volleyball, as well as men’s and women’s soccer. You can follow him on Instagram at fernando9015 or email him at fermtzrdem@gmail.com to see what he is up to today.

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