NCAA | Washington volleyball jumps to #7 in week 3 coaches’ poll

Washington (6-0) moves up five places; 4 Pac-12 teams in top 8

The weekly coaches’ poll is conducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Worth noting:

• Penn State defeats both Texas and Stanford at home, yet remains ranked behind Nebraska. Two weeks ago, the Cornhuskers barely held off UCLA at home, but have otherwise played a far weaker schedule than the Nittany Lions.
• Oregon defeats last week’s #10 Kentucky,(after earlier beating Ohio State) but voters still rank Ducks below Dayton, Purdue and two-loss Stanford. Hard to understand the continued attraction for Iowa State (2-3)and Illinois (2-3).

NCAA | How the Top 20 fared

How the Top 20 fared, August 24-26, 2012

It was an eventful three days …

Washington's Kelcey Dunaway
-Volleyblog Seattle photo
by Leslie Hamann

• In the first weekend’s marquee matchup, #1 UCLA built a 19-13 lead in the second set against #5 Nebraska, only to let it slip away. Playing at home, the Huskers hung on, barely, until the match was tied 13-all in the fifth set. Nebraska won the next two points and came away with the narrowest of victories.
• The Bruins were last season’s national champions; their Finals opponent, #9 Illinois, also lost … twice, to Dayton and to #11 Pepperdine. Not to be outdone, Pepperdine also lost to unheralded Dayton.
• Nebraska’s Coliseum is probably the second-toughest place for visitors to play; #3 Stanford travelled to the toughest: Honolulu. In something of a surprise, Hawai’i handled Stanford fairly easily, 3-1, in front of 7,426 Wahine Rainbow fans.
• #2 Texas swept away pesky #19 San Diego, and watched #10 Iowa State—its only serious competition in the Big 12—lose to both #14 Florida State and #16 Tennessee. Florida State also easily handled Tennessee.
• Last season, #18 Oregon stunned the volleyball world by beating #4 Penn State. This season, the Ducks overcame Ohio State in five sets.
• #17 California stumbled, losing in five sets to San Diego State.