Amber Aniston • September 30, 2026
Fairfield Completes Reverse Sweep of Sacred Heart 3-2 Behind Mamie Krubally’s 16 Kills
Fairfield refused to let a difficult opening two sets define its night Tuesday, storming back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat crosstown rival Sacred Heart 3-2 at the William H. Pitt Center.
The Stags dropped the first two sets before completing the reverse sweep 18-25, 15-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-11. Fairfield improved to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in Metro Conference play, while Sacred Heart fell to 9-6 and 2-1.
Mamie Krubally led Fairfield with 16 kills while hitting .452, but the comeback required contributions throughout the Stags' lineup, including 10 blocks from Harlan Wyche and double-digit kills from Aislin Oldach, Emma Bortolotti and Katelyn Cook.
Sacred Heart Takes Command With 2-0 Lead
Sacred Heart controlled the opening half of the match and put Fairfield in immediate danger of a straight-set defeat.
The Pioneers took the opening set 25-18 before becoming even more efficient offensively in the second. Sacred Heart hit .417 in Set 2, recording 13 kills against only three errors on 24 attacks.
Sacred Heart also sided out at an impressive rate early, finishing at 72 percent in the first set before improving to a match-best 81 percent in the second.
A 25-15 second-set victory left the Pioneers one frame away from completing the sweep.
Fairfield needed a significant response, and it arrived in the closest set of the night.
Fairfield Survives 26-24 Third-Set Battle
The third set became the turning point.
With Sacred Heart holding a 2-0 match advantage, neither team could create meaningful separation. The frame featured 14 ties and four lead changes, with every run answered by the other side.
Fairfield eventually found the two-point advantage it needed, surviving the extended battle with a 26-24 victory.
The result did more than simply prevent a sweep. It shifted the direction of the match.
Fairfield's offense became significantly more efficient over the final two sets, while the Stags' blocking began making it increasingly difficult for Sacred Heart to reproduce its early attacking success.
Stags Pull Away in Fourth Set
The fourth set remained competitive early.
Sacred Heart and Fairfield combined for eight ties and one lead change, but the Stags eventually created separation and pulled away late for a 25-18 victory.
Fairfield hit .424 in the fourth, part of a remarkable offensive turnaround after struggling through the opening two sets.
The victory evened the match at 2-2 and forced a deciding fifth set.
For Fairfield, the comeback was now one set away from completion.
Fairfield Takes Early Control of Fifth Set
The Stags carried their momentum directly into the deciding frame.
Fairfield opened the fifth set with a 2-0 run and never surrendered the lead. Wyche also contributed two service aces during the set, adding to an already impressive night at the net.
Fairfield eventually built a 12-8 advantage, but Sacred Heart had one final push.
Back-to-back kills from Abbie Hagedorn cut the margin to two and gave the Pioneers an opportunity to extend the match.
Fairfield answered by winning three of the final four points, closing the fifth set 15-11 and completing the reverse sweep.
The Stags hit .423 in the fifth set, nearly matching their .424 performance in the fourth.
Mamie Krubally Leads Balanced Fairfield Attack
Krubally delivered Fairfield's best offensive performance, finishing with 16 kills on a .452 hitting percentage.
She was one of four Stags to reach double figures.
Oldach contributed 13 kills and 12 digs, completing a double-double. Bortolotti recorded 12 kills and contributed to seven blocks, while Cook finished with 11 kills on .321 hitting and a team-high 13 digs.
Cook's performance was particularly versatile. The junior started the match wearing the libero jersey before eventually switching to the pins and becoming another important part of Fairfield's attack.
Eight different Stags recorded at least one kill as Fairfield used 13 players during the comeback.
Harlan Wyche Controls the Net With 10 Blocks
While Fairfield's attack found its rhythm, Wyche helped change the match defensively.
The middle finished with 10 blocks, reaching double digits for the second time this season. She previously accomplished the feat against Holy Cross on Sept. 5.
Wyche also contributed seven kills while hitting .600, along with three digs and the two fifth-set service aces.
Courtney Vines added six blocks, one kill and the first service ace of her career.
Fairfield finished with 16 team blocks, helping hold Sacred Heart to a .213 hitting percentage for the match.
Sykut and Bradley Direct Fairfield’s Comeback
Fairfield also received an important contribution from its setters.
Zofia Sykut finished with 36 assists and seven digs, while Mary Kate Bradley made her debut and appeared in the final three sets.
Bradley contributed 14 assists and four digs, helping direct an offense that hit above .420 in both the fourth and fifth sets.
Fairfield ultimately finished the match with a .300 team hitting percentage despite its difficult start.
Natalie Carlin added 12 digs, joining Cook and Oldach among the Stags who reached double figures defensively.
Lauren Hubert Leads Sacred Heart With 18 Kills
Sacred Heart received a strong performance from senior right side Lauren Hubert, who led all players with 18 kills.
Hubert also recorded 16 digs to complete a double-double.
Hagedorn added another double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs, along with four assists and two aces.
Setter Addy Franz contributed 38 assists, 11 digs, seven kills, four blocks and two service aces, while Raissa Antonio finished with seven kills and six blocks.
Ryleigh Short led Sacred Heart defensively with 17 digs and also recorded a team-high four service aces.
Fairfield Records First Reverse Sweep Since 2022
The comeback carried additional significance for the Stags.
It marked Fairfield's first reverse sweep since Sept. 7, 2022, when the program also erased a 2-0 deficit to defeat St. John's in five sets.
Fairfield improved to 2-1 in five-set matches this season and 8-7 in matches that have reached a fifth set under head coach Nancy Somera.
Most importantly, the Stags remain perfect in conference play at 3-0, joining Iona as the two remaining Metro teams with unblemished league records following Tuesday's action.
Fairfield next hosts Quinnipiac on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., followed by Merrimack on Saturday. Sacred Heart continues its four-match homestand against Merrimack on Friday before also facing Quinnipiac.
Duke delivered its biggest scoring performance in more than seven decades Saturday, overwhelming William & Mary 62-7 at Wallace Wade Stadium behind five touchdown passes from quarterbacks Walker Eget and Dan Mahan. The Blue Devils improved to 4-0 and extended their winning streak to eight games dating back to last season, their longest since 2013. Eget threw two touchdown passes, Mahan added three, and running back Nate Sheppard rushed for 116 yards and a score as Duke controlled the game on both sides of the ball. The 62 points were Duke's most in a game since a 67-0 victory over Richmond in 1949 . Duke Strikes First Behind Walker Eget The Blue Devils established control immediately. Duke marched 75 yards on its opening possession, with Eget connecting with Jayden Moore for a 24-yard touchdown . It was Moore's first career touchdown and gave Duke a 7-0 advantage. William & Mary later received an opportunity after Duke failed to convert a fake punt, taking possession at the Blue Devils' 26-yard line. But the Tribe could not capitalize, and Luke Mergott eventually blocked Max Lipinski's 53-yard field-goal attempt. Duke responded with another scoring drive. Sheppard broke through for a 19-yard touchdown run , extending the advantage to 14-0. The nation's leading rusher entering the week finished with 116 yards on only nine carries. William & Mary Answers Before Duke Pulls Away William & Mary produced its only touchdown late in the first quarter. A 63-yard reception by freshman Khylil Johnson moved the Tribe deep into Duke territory. Quarterback Winston Watkins then connected with Jack Reuter for a six-yard touchdown , cutting Duke's lead to 14-7. It was Reuter's first career touchdown. From there, Duke took complete control. Cosme Salas kicked a 32-yard field goal before Mahan entered the game and immediately made an impact through the air. The second-year freshman found Kavon Simmons for a 29-yard touchdown , giving Duke a 24-7 advantage. Less than three minutes later, Mahan connected with Jaivon Solomon for another 29-yard score . Those were the first two touchdown passes of Mahan's career. Eget Finishes First Half With 95-Yard Drive Duke added another touchdown just before halftime with one of its most impressive possessions of the afternoon. The Blue Devils traveled 95 yards in only 90 seconds , with Eget finding Penn transfer Jared Richardson for a 28-yard touchdown reception . The rapid drive sent Duke into halftime with complete control of the game. Eget eventually finished 16-of-22 for 182 yards and two touchdowns , while Mahan completed six of seven attempts for 126 yards and three scores. The two quarterbacks combined for five touchdown passes to five different receivers. It was the first time since 1990 that two Duke quarterbacks threw multiple touchdown passes in the same game , while the five different touchdown recipients marked Duke's first such performance since 2009. Duke Keeps Scoring After Halftime Duke did not slow down after the break. Salas connected on a 39-yard field goal early in the third quarter before Mahan delivered his third touchdown pass, finding Brody Keefe for a 27-yard score to make it 48-7. The Blue Devils then turned to their rushing depth in the fourth quarter. Jayvian Tanelus scored on a four-yard run before CJ Givers broke free for a 28-yard touchdown , completing the 62-point performance. Eight different Duke players scored touchdowns, and no Blue Devil reached the end zone more than once. Nate Sheppard Extends 100-Yard Streak Although Duke's quarterbacks generated much of the attention, Sheppard continued his impressive start. He entered the week leading the nation with 528 rushing yards and added 116 yards against William & Mary despite receiving only nine carries. It marked Sheppard's fifth consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards , the second-longest streak in Duke history. His first-quarter touchdown was his sixth rushing score and ninth total touchdown of the season. Duke Defense Shuts Down the Tribe Duke's defense was equally dominant after allowing William & Mary's first-quarter touchdown. The Blue Devils surrendered just 170 total yards , including only 17 rushing yards . Duke recorded nine tackles for loss, four sacks and two quarterback pressures. William & Mary did not score after halftime, marking Duke's second consecutive second-half shutout. Through four games, the Blue Devils have not allowed a second-half touchdown and have surrendered only six total points after halftime. Watkins finished with 137 passing yards and one touchdown for William & Mary, which fell to 2-3. The Tribe's streak of 13 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points also came to an end. Duke Reaches 4-0 With Historic Offensive Performance The victory gave Duke a 4-0 start for the third time in four seasons , while three of its first four opponents have been held to seven points or fewer. More importantly, the Blue Devils head into their open week unbeaten and riding an eight-game winning streak. Duke returns to action Oct. 10 at Georgia Tech , while William & Mary heads home to face Holy Cross.
Vanderbilt earned its first SEC victory of the season Wednesday night, sweeping LSU 3-0 at the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge. The Commodores won 25-22, 25-23, 25-16 , improving to 10-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play . The victory also pushed Vanderbilt beyond the nine wins recorded by the program's 2025 team. Samantha Wunsch led Vanderbilt with 15 kills , while Reese Animashaun and Maya Witherspoon each added 13. Setter Avery Scoggins distributed 45 assists as the Commodores produced 50 kills and hit .241. Vanderbilt Builds Early Lead in First Set LSU remained within striking distance throughout the opening frame, but Vanderbilt consistently found ways to create separation. The Commodores used a 6-1 run to build an 11-7 advantage before eventually stretching the margin to seven points. LSU responded with a 9-3 surge that dramatically changed the set. That rally brought the Tigers within 22-21 , giving LSU an opportunity to steal the opening frame after spending much of it playing from behind. Vanderbilt responded at the critical moment, winning three of the final four points to secure the first set 25-22. LSU Nearly Completes Second-Set Comeback The Commodores created an even larger early advantage in Set 2, using an 8-1 run to put LSU in another difficult position. But the Tigers refused to allow Vanderbilt to cruise to a two-set advantage. LSU gradually worked its way back into the frame and eventually reduced Vanderbilt's lead to 24-23 . With the Tigers threatening to erase the deficit completely, Vanderbilt called timeout. The Commodores responded immediately after the break, winning the next point to escape with a 25-23 victory . Vanderbilt had survived LSU's second comeback attempt and carried a commanding 2-0 advantage into the third. Commodores Take Control in Third Set LSU briefly grabbed a 4-3 lead early in the third, but Vanderbilt quickly erased it. The Commodores answered with a 5-0 run , taking an 8-4 advantage and forcing LSU back into chase mode. This time, there would be no late Tigers comeback. Vanderbilt continued extending its advantage as the set progressed, eventually closing out LSU 25-16 to complete the straight-set victory. The final frame was Vanderbilt's most decisive win of the evening. Samantha Wunsch Leads Vanderbilt Attack Wunsch delivered the most productive offensive performance for the Commodores, finishing with 15 kills . She also contributed five blocks, giving Vanderbilt another important presence at the net. Animashaun and Witherspoon supplied 13 kills apiece , giving Vanderbilt three players with at least 13 kills. Scoggins kept the offense moving with 45 assists , helping Vanderbilt finish with 50 kills and a .241 hitting percentage. The balanced production made it difficult for LSU to focus its defense on a single Vanderbilt attacker. Vanderbilt Defense Records 68 Digs Vanderbilt's defensive performance was just as important. The Commodores recorded a season-high 68 digs , with Hailee Mack producing a season-best 22 digs . Witherspoon added 18 digs to her 13 kills for a double-double, while Scoggins paired her 45 assists with 13 digs for another double-double. Vanderbilt also limited LSU to 32 kills and a .157 hitting percentage , preventing the Tigers from establishing consistent offensive rhythm. Jurnee Robinson Leads LSU Senior outside hitter Jurnee Robinson provided LSU's top attacking performance with 12 kills while adding two blocks. Kiley Brooks and Ella Hemmings led the Tigers defensively with 17 digs each , with Hemmings establishing a career high. Sanaa Donaie provided LSU's strongest presence at the net, finishing with a match-high five blocks . LSU actually finished with advantages in both blocks, 9-6 , and service aces, 3-2 , but Vanderbilt's advantage in attacking production proved decisive. Vanderbilt Reaches 10 Wins The sweep moved Vanderbilt to 10-2 , giving the program more victories than its 2025 team recorded. More importantly in the immediate SEC race, Vanderbilt picked up its first conference victory of the season and improved to 1-2 in league play. LSU dropped to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the SEC . Vanderbilt now travels to Ole Miss on Sunday at 2 p.m. , while LSU remains at the Maravich Center to host Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 4 at noon CT .
No. 4 Louisville remained unbeaten in Atlantic Coast Conference play Wednesday night, delivering a dominant all-around performance in a 3-0 sweep of Notre Dame at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. The Cardinals won 25-16, 25-18, 25-18 , improving to 13-2 overall and 3-0 in the ACC . Louisville hit .353 with 39 kills and seven service aces while holding Notre Dame to a .134 hitting percentage. The Fighting Irish fell to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Outside hitter Chloe Meester led Louisville with 13 kills on a .579 hitting percentage and four aces , providing the Cardinals with one of their most efficient individual offensive performances of the season. Meester Helps Louisville Break Open First Set Notre Dame stayed with Louisville through the opening stages of the match. Neither team led by more than two points through the first 14 rallies, and the score was tied at 7-7 before the Cardinals began creating separation. Kalyssa Blackshear put down a kill, and Meester followed with back-to-back service aces , pushing Louisville ahead 10-7. Notre Dame responded by scoring three of the next four points and trimmed the deficit to 11-10. That was as close as the Fighting Irish would get. Louisville answered with a 4-1 run to take a 15-11 advantage into the media timeout. The Cardinals then accelerated out of the break with a 7-2 run , highlighted by three Meester kills. Blackshear eventually finished the set with another kill, giving Louisville a convincing 25-16 opening-set victory . Cardinals Use 7-1 Run to Control Set 2 Notre Dame again made the early portion of the second set competitive. The teams were tied at 8-8 before Louisville produced another decisive scoring run. The Cardinals ripped off seven of the next eight points , with Meester contributing two kills and a block during the surge. Louisville entered the media timeout ahead 15-9. From there, the Cardinals kept Notre Dame from generating a serious comeback. Louisville moved within two points of taking the set at 23-16 before Notre Dame scored twice. A Fighting Irish service error brought up set point, and Brooke Bultema finished the frame with a solo block , securing another 25-18 victory. Louisville had a commanding 2-0 match advantage and needed only one more set to preserve its perfect ACC start. Chicoine Sparks Fast Start in Third Unlike the first two sets, Louisville did not wait until the middle of the frame to pull away in the third. The Cardinals raced to a 10-2 lead , with Chloe Chicoine delivering three consecutive kills during the early surge. Louisville maintained control and entered the media timeout ahead 15-7. Notre Dame refused to disappear quietly. The Fighting Irish responded with a 10-5 run that reduced Louisville's advantage to 21-17 and created one final opportunity to extend the match. The Cardinals immediately shut the door. Louisville scored four of the final five points, and Meester delivered her 13th kill of the night to finish the third set 25-18 and complete the sweep. Chloe Meester Delivers Efficient Performance Meester's performance was central to Louisville's offensive success. The outside hitter recorded 13 kills while hitting .579 , committing very few mistakes while consistently finding openings in Notre Dame's defense. She also contributed four of Louisville's seven service aces. It marked Meester's 10th double-digit kill performance of the season and the third time she has hit better than .500 in a match. Her emergence has taken on added importance after she played sparingly for Louisville last season. Head coach Dan Meske pointed to Meester's development in both her mentality and physical game as factors in her expanded role. Chicoine provided another dependable attacking option, finishing with 12 kills on .333 hitting . She has now reached double-digit kills in 14 matches and hit at least .300 in 12. Cabello Directs Louisville’s .353 Attack Setter Nayelis Cabello helped keep Louisville's offense operating efficiently throughout the sweep. Cabello distributed 32 assists as the Cardinals finished with a .353 team hitting percentage. She also made an impact defensively, recording 10 digs and four blocks . Louisville's success extended beyond its attack. The Cardinals finished with 11 blocks and 37 digs , limiting Notre Dame to only a .134 hitting percentage. The combination of efficient attacking, pressure from the service line and strong work at the net prevented Notre Dame from sustaining its early competitiveness in each set. Louisville Extends Winning Streak Against Notre Dame Wednesday's victory continued Louisville's recent control of the series. The Cardinals have now defeated Notre Dame in 10 consecutive matches . Meske described the performance as one of Louisville's more complete efforts against its conference rival, highlighting the Cardinals' hitting efficiency and return to double-digit blocks. Louisville has also opened ACC play at 3-0 , maintaining its undefeated conference record through the first three league matches. The Cardinals will not have much time to celebrate Wednesday's sweep because the schedule immediately provides Notre Dame with an opportunity for revenge. Louisville travels to South Bend, Indiana, for a rematch with the Fighting Irish on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. ET . The match will be played at Purcell Pavilion and streamed on ACCNX. The quick turnaround adds another challenge. Meske noted that consecutive meetings give both teams an immediate scouting opportunity, potentially producing adjustments for the second matchup. For Louisville, the objective remains straightforward: carry Wednesday's efficiency to South Bend and keep its unbeaten ACC start intact.
Utah Tech extended its hottest stretch of the season Tuesday night, defeating Southern Utah 3-1 at Burns Arena in St. George behind another all-around performance from senior outside hitter Tessa Treanor. The Trailblazers won 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18 , improving to 10-3 overall and 3-0 in Big Sky play . The victory extended Utah Tech's winning streak to seven matches, the longest of the program's Division I era. Treanor led the way with 15 kills and a season-high 19 digs , recording her fifth double-double of the season. Nana Asiata added 12 kills, while Sydney Reese finished with 10. Utah Tech Rallies From Slow Start Southern Utah opened the match aggressively, scoring seven of the first nine points and putting the Trailblazers into an early hole. Utah Tech gradually worked its way back behind kills from Annalyse Shimada, Reese, Treanor and Shaylee Dahle. The deficit was reduced to 10-8 before Southern Utah moved back ahead 12-10. Asiata then delivered consecutive kills to tie the score at 12. Following another tie at 13-13, Cale Torgerson recorded a kill before back-to-back blocks involving Shimada pushed Utah Tech ahead 16-13 . The Trailblazers never surrendered the lead. Utah Tech eventually stretched its advantage to 21-15 and closed the opening set 25-18 following consecutive Southern Utah attack errors. Trailblazers Take 2-0 Match Lead Southern Utah scored the opening two points of the second set, but Utah Tech immediately answered with its strongest run of the frame. The Trailblazers scored seven consecutive points , with Asiata producing three early kills before Lusia Langi and Torgerson added kills of their own. The run gave Utah Tech a 7-2 advantage. Southern Utah recovered and eventually tied the set at 16-16 . Torgerson responded with a kill to put Utah Tech back in front, and the Trailblazers later used a three-point run capped by Treanor to build a 22-18 advantage. Treanor eventually finished the frame herself, delivering the kill that secured a 25-21 victory and a 2-0 match lead. Southern Utah Avoids the Sweep The Thunderbirds produced their best start of the night in the third set. Southern Utah raced ahead 9-3 before Utah Tech began cutting into the deficit. The Thunderbirds still held a 16-11 advantage when the Trailblazers scored three straight points, including a Reese kill and a block by Dahle and Torgerson. Utah Tech eventually erased the deficit completely. A Reese kill and Reese block tied the set at 18-18, and an Asiata kill later gave the Trailblazers a 21-19 lead . Southern Utah responded. The Thunderbirds tied the frame at 21-21, and although kills from Treanor and Torgerson twice brought Utah Tech even again, Southern Utah scored the final two points to capture the set 25-23 . The Thunderbirds had extended the match, but Utah Tech quickly took control again. Utah Tech Dominates Fourth Set The Trailblazers opened the fourth with a 7-1 run . Reese delivered three early kills, Shimada contributed to two blocks and Torgerson added a service ace as Utah Tech immediately created separation. Treanor then took over offensively. She recorded four kills between the points that moved Utah Tech from an 8-4 advantage to a 17-12 lead , preventing Southern Utah from mounting another comeback. The Trailblazers eventually pushed their advantage to 21-13. Southern Utah answered with four straight points, but Asiata stopped the run with a kill. Shimada then supplied the final block as Utah Tech completed the match with another 25-18 victory . Tessa Treanor Records Fifth Double-Double Treanor finished the night as Utah Tech's offensive leader with 15 kills . Her season-high 19 digs gave her a fifth double-double and marked the fourth time this season that she has led the Trailblazers in kills. Utah Tech also received double-digit attacking production from Asiata and Reese. Asiata's 12 kills marked her ninth double-digit kill performance of the season , while Reese contributed 10. Shimada made her biggest impact at the net, leading Utah Tech with six blocks, including three solo stops . Marley Roe distributed a team-high 22 assists, and Kaleinani Watson finished with a career-high 15 digs and eight assists . Trailblazers Control Match Defensively Utah Tech finished with the advantage in nearly every major team category. The Trailblazers recorded 55 kills compared with Southern Utah's 38 , while hitting .187 and holding the Thunderbirds to just .061 . Utah Tech also led 12-9 in blocks and 67-58 in digs , while the teams finished tied with two service aces apiece. Southern Utah's defense still provided several encouraging performances. Audrey Atwood recorded a team-high 10 kills , reaching double figures for the first time this season. Emilia Linden and Natalie Moore added seven kills each. Cala Cooper led the Thunderbirds with five blocks, including three solo , while Moore also recorded three solo blocks. Libero Amanda Mendoza finished with a season-high 17 digs . Southern Utah's nine total blocks extended its streak of matches with at least five blocks to four. The Thunderbirds also held Utah Tech below .200 hitting, but the defensive effort was not enough to overcome the Trailblazers' broader statistical advantage. Utah Tech Extends Winning Streak to Seven Tuesday's victory continued an impressive run for Utah Tech. The Trailblazers have now won seven consecutive matches , establishing their longest winning streak since moving to Division I. Burns Arena has also become a difficult place for opponents. Utah Tech has won 12 consecutive home matches and 16 of its last 17 at home . The Trailblazers have also beaten Southern Utah five consecutive times and improved to 8-5 in the all-time series. The schedule now brings Utah Tech a significant conference test. The Trailblazers return to Burns Arena on Thursday to face 2025 Big Sky champion Northern Colorado , which enters at 6-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Southern Utah returns home for its next match, also facing Northern Colorado on Saturday at noon MT.
Week 4 delivered major movement across the college football rankings, but the team at the top remained unchanged. Texas held the No. 1 position in the AP Top 25 after surviving Tennessee 20-17, while Georgia and Notre Dame remained directly behind the Longhorns. The biggest story further down the rankings was Florida, which surged 13 spots from No. 21 to No. 8 following a 52-28 victory over previously No. 4 Ole Miss. The new poll also rewarded Iowa, Oregon and Mississippi State for significant Week 4 victories, while Oklahoma State, Boise State, UCLA and Kentucky entered the Top 25. Texas Remains No. 1 After Tennessee Test Texas maintained its grip on the top ranking by escaping Knoxville with a 20-17 victory over Tennessee . The Longhorns improved to 4-0 and extended their winning streak to seven games, their longest under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Texas now has a week off before facing Oklahoma on Oct. 10. Georgia remained No. 2 after delivering one of the weekend's most convincing performances, beating Oklahoma 41-13. The Bulldogs are also 4-0 and have won 52 consecutive games against unranked opponents. No. 3 Notre Dame maintained its position after beating Purdue 49-10. The Fighting Irish have now won 14 consecutive games by double digits and travel to North Carolina next. Miami and Ohio State Move Into Top Five Miami climbed two positions from No. 6 to No. 4 following a dominant 52-3 victory over Central Michigan. The Hurricanes are 4-0 for the fourth consecutive season and now prepare for a road matchup against Clemson. Ohio State also moved two places, rising from No. 7 to No. 5 after defeating Illinois 42-19. The Buckeyes have won 11 consecutive games against Illinois and will next travel to face undefeated No. 14 Iowa. Indiana slipped one position to No. 6 despite improving to 4-0 with a 29-23 win over Northwestern. The Hoosiers have won 20 consecutive games , the longest active winning streak in the FBS. Alabama climbed one position to No. 7 after beating South Carolina 49-18. Florida Makes Week’s Biggest Jump No team benefited more from Week 4 than Florida. The Gators entered the weekend ranked No. 21 before producing a 52-28 victory over Ole Miss , which had been ranked fourth. That result sent Florida all the way to No. 8 , a 13-position climb. It was also the Gators' first victory over an AP top-five opponent since 2020. Florida is now 4-0 and travels to Missouri for another ranked matchup. Ole Miss experienced the opposite movement, falling from No. 4 to No. 9 after suffering its first loss. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss committed five turnovers against Florida, more than the three he had all of last season. BYU rounds out the Top 10 after an idle week. Iowa, Oregon Rise After Statement Wins Iowa provided another of Week 4's biggest moments. The Hawkeyes defeated Michigan 20-19 on a touchdown as time expired , improving to 4-0 and climbing three positions from No. 17 to No. 14 . The victory was Iowa's first over a ranked Big Ten opponent since 2021. Iowa will have an immediate opportunity to strengthen its résumé when No. 5 Ohio State visits Saturday . Oregon made an even larger jump. The Ducks moved from No. 20 to No. 15 after beating USC 41-27. Oregon is now 18-1 in Big Ten play since joining the conference in 2024. The loss sent USC in the opposite direction, dropping the Trojans from No. 12 to No. 18 . Mississippi State Climbs Eight Spots Mississippi State was another major Week 4 riser. The Bulldogs climbed from No. 24 to No. 16 after defeating Missouri 31-24 and improving to 4-0. The victory was Mississippi State's first in a matchup between AP-ranked teams since 2014. The Bulldogs now host No. 7 Alabama in one of the notable games on the upcoming schedule. Missouri fell six positions from No. 19 to No. 25 after the loss. The Tigers have now dropped nine consecutive games against AP-ranked opponents. Four Teams Enter the AP Top 25 The bottom portion of the rankings welcomed four new teams. Oklahoma State entered at No. 19 following a 41-24 victory over West Virginia. The Cowboys have averaged more than 46 points in their three victories since losing their opener to Tulsa. Boise State entered at No. 22 after beating Western Michigan 32-7. The Broncos are 11-0 against MAC opponents since 2000. UCLA arrived at No. 23 following a 54-3 victory over Maryland. The Bruins are 4-0 for the first time since 2022. Kentucky rounds out the newcomers at No. 24 after defeating South Alabama 45-21. The Wildcats have scored 138 points through four games, their second-highest four-game total over the past 15 years. Complete AP Top 25 After Week 4 Here is the complete poll, listed from No. 1 through No. 25 as provided in the source: Texas (4-0) Georgia (4-0) Notre Dame (4-0) Miami (4-0) Ohio State (3-1) Indiana (4-0) Alabama (4-0) Florida (4-0) Ole Miss (3-1) BYU LSU (3-1) Texas Tech (4-0) Utah (4-0) Iowa (4-0) Oregon (3-1) Mississippi State (4-0) Tennessee (3-1) USC (4-1) Oklahoma State Houston SMU (3-1) Boise State (3-1) UCLA (4-0) Kentucky (3-1) Missouri (3-1) The source contains minor record inconsistencies between its two AP ranking sections for BYU, Oklahoma State and Houston, so their records are omitted above rather than silently reconciling the conflicting figures. Week 5 Brings More Ranked Matchups The reshuffled rankings immediately create several important Week 5 games. No. 5 Ohio State visits No. 14 Iowa, No. 7 Alabama travels to No. 16 Mississippi State, and No. 8 Florida visits No. 25 Missouri. Miami's rise to No. 4 will also be tested on the road against Clemson. After a Week 4 that produced dramatic finishes and significant movement throughout the poll, Texas remains the team everyone is chasing at the top.
No. 5 SMU overcame a blistering start from Cal to earn a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum, completing an undefeated opening weekend of ACC play behind a season-best performance from Suli Davis. The Mustangs dropped the opening set before responding to win 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-15 . SMU improved to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the ACC , while Cal fell to 10-3 and 0-2. Davis powered the comeback with a season-high 26 kills while hitting .308 , and SMU finished at .358 as a team. Cal Takes Control of Opening Set Cal entered the match facing its second top-five opponent of the weekend after playing No. 2 Pitt on Friday, but the Golden Bears showed no signs of being intimidated. Cal grabbed the lead early and never surrendered it in the first set. There were no ties or lead changes , with the Golden Bears building advantages of 8-4 and 19-13 before closing out a 25-19 victory. The offensive numbers were exceptional. Cal hit .538 in the opening frame , outperforming an SMU offense that still managed a .400 hitting percentage. Davis was already producing at a remarkable rate despite the opening-set loss. She recorded 10 kills in the first frame , the most by an individual player in a set during head coach Sam Erger's tenure. The challenge for Cal was maintaining its early efficiency. It could not. SMU Responds With 25-16 Second-Set Win The momentum changed quickly in the second set. SMU found ways to create opportunities for Davis and middle blocker Favor Anyanwu, and the Mustangs raced to a 25-16 victory to even the match at one set apiece. At the same time, Cal's attacking efficiency began falling sharply. After hitting .538 in the first set, the Golden Bears dropped to .214 in the second . That decline continued throughout the remainder of the afternoon. SMU's ability to respond after losing the opening frame prevented Cal from turning its early momentum into control of the match. From that point forward, the Mustangs never dropped another set. Mustangs Hold Off Cal in Third Cal made another push in the third set. SMU created as much as a seven-point advantage, but the Golden Bears refused to let the frame get away. Cal gradually reduced the deficit and eventually pulled within 23-20 late in the set. The Mustangs responded by taking the final two points and closing out a 25-20 victory . Cal's offensive efficiency had now dropped to just .074 , a dramatic difference from its .538 performance in the opening set. With SMU ahead 2-1, the Golden Bears needed another strong start in the fourth to extend the match. For a brief stretch, they got one. SMU Breaks Open Fourth Set Cal stayed with SMU through an 8-8 tie in the fourth set. Then the match changed completely. The Mustangs began forcing mistakes while finding openings offensively, turning the tie into a commanding 21-11 advantage . Cal managed to collect a few additional points, but there was no second comeback. SMU finished the set 25-15 , completing the 3-1 victory. Cal hit only .087 in the fourth , meaning the Golden Bears went from .538 in the first set to below .100 in each of the final two frames. Across the final three sets, SMU held Cal to a combined .132 hitting percentage . Suli Davis Delivers Season-High 26 Kills Davis was the centerpiece of SMU's offensive performance. The sophomore outside hitter finished with 26 kills on a .308 hitting percentage , reaching the 20-kill mark for the fourth time this season. She has recorded at least 15 kills in all but one match this year. Her 26 kills also tied for the second-most by an SMU player in a four-set match during the 25-point rally-scoring era . Davis finished the weekend averaging 6.29 kills and 6.71 points per set across victories over No. 12 Stanford and Cal, performances that earned her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. SMU Middles Add Efficient Attack Davis produced the biggest numbers, but SMU also received highly efficient production from the middle. Natalia Newsome and Favor Anyanwu combined for 18 kills while hitting .630 , committing only one error on 27 attacks. Setter Hannah Beauford recorded 43 assists and four digs , helping the Mustangs finish with a .358 team hitting percentage. Victoria Harris led SMU defensively with 12 digs and also contributed a team-high two service aces. Anyanwu led the Mustangs with four blocks. Overall, SMU held advantages of 56-41 in kills, 52-41 in assists, 6-2 in aces and 35-27 in digs . Abby Zimmerman Leads Cal Cal's offense never rediscovered its first-set rhythm, but several Golden Bears still produced strong individual numbers. Abby Zimmerman led Cal with 11 kills , while Sawyer Thomsen contributed nine kills on an efficient .562 hitting percentage . Senior libero Sophia Johnson also reached a career milestone , recording her 1,000th career dig during the weekend. The larger issue was the dramatic offensive decline after Cal's opening-set performance. The Golden Bears went from hitting .538 in the first to .214, .074 and .087 over the remaining three sets. SMU Extends Home and ACC Winning Streaks The victory extended two significant SMU streaks. The Mustangs have now won 15 consecutive home matches , setting a program record and tying for the third-longest active home streak nationally. SMU has also won 11 consecutive ACC matches , the longest active conference winning streak in the league. Since joining the ACC in 2024, the Mustangs are 35-7 in conference matches. SMU is also 52-0 under Erger when hitting .300 or better , a streak preserved by Sunday's .358 performance. The Mustangs will now leave Dallas for their first ACC road test, traveling to face Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 2 . Cal returns to Haas Pavilion to host Virginia and Virginia Tech.
No. 2 Pitt continued its undefeated start Sunday night, sweeping No. 12 Stanford 3-0 in a nationally televised ACC matchup at Victory Heights Arena in Pittsburgh. The Panthers won 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 , improving to 12-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play . Stanford fell to 7-5 and 0-2 in the conference. The matchup featured the top two teams from the ACC preseason poll. Olivia Babcock led Pitt with 20 kills , adding nine digs and four blocks. The Panthers hit .325 as a team and controlled the net with 11.5 blocks as their remarkable winning streak continued. Pitt Pulls Away Late in Opening Set Stanford matched Pitt closely throughout the early stages of the opening set. Neither side led by more than two points before the Cardinal moved ahead 15-13 . Pitt responded immediately with three consecutive points to force a Stanford timeout. The teams remained tied at 18-18 before Abbey Emch and Babcock delivered consecutive kills to put the Panthers ahead 20-18. Babcock then struck twice more after Stanford pulled within one, extending Pitt's advantage to 22-19. Maaike Heilig added another kill following Stanford's final timeout, and Blaire Bayless eventually delivered the set-winning point as Pitt took the opener 25-21. It was the beginning of another efficient night for a Pitt offense that repeatedly found answers whenever Stanford threatened. Stanford Pushes Pitt to 23-23 The second set provided Stanford's strongest opportunity to change the direction of the match. With the score tied 8-8, Pitt produced a three-point run highlighted by an Emch kill off an overpass. Stanford responded and eventually pulled even at 13-13 , forcing the Panthers to use a timeout. Pitt regained control behind consecutive kills from Babcock and Ayanna Watson, building an 18-15 advantage. Babcock later recorded her 14th kill to stretch the margin to four, but Stanford refused to concede the set. The Cardinal fought back and tied the score 23-23 with consecutive kills . Pitt then executed when the set reached its decisive moments. Izzy Starck produced a strong set that allowed Bayless to finish a kill, and the Panthers captured the final two points for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 match lead. Pitt’s Blocking Takes Over in Third Set Stanford opened the third set with three consecutive points, handing Pitt its largest deficit of the match. The Panthers answered immediately. Babcock contributed two kills and participated in two assisted blocks during a four-point Pitt run. Bayless and Emch then helped produce two more blocks as the Panthers moved ahead 6-3. Pitt eventually extended its lead to 15-9 , but Stanford mounted another comeback. The Cardinal reduced the deficit to 18-15 and later pulled within two at 22-20. Another Stanford kill made it 22-21 , forcing Pitt head coach Dan Fisher to use his second consecutive timeout. Once again, Babcock delivered when Pitt needed a point. Her kill ended Stanford's run. Emch and Bayless followed with a block to create match point, and Bayless closed the night with the final kill , securing the 25-21 set and the sweep. Olivia Babcock Reaches 20 Kills Again Babcock's performance continued another outstanding season for the Pitt star. She finished with 20 kills, nine digs, four blocks and two assists , recording her third 20-kill match of the season. The performance also pushed Babcock past another offensive milestone. She now has 202 kills through Pitt's first 12 matches , two more than she had through the same number of matches last season when she eventually broke Pitt's single-season kills record. Bayless provided another effective attacking option with 11 kills on a .333 hitting percentage , along with three digs and two blocks. Starck recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs . She also contributed four blocks and converted all three of her attacks into kills. Panthers Win the Battle at the Net Pitt's blocking played a major role in preventing Stanford from gaining control of any set. The Panthers finished with 11.5 blocks compared with Stanford's six , while hitting .325 and limiting the Cardinal to a .228 attack percentage. Heilig led Pitt with six blocks and also recorded the Panthers' only service ace. Trinity Thompson anchored the back row with a career-high 14 digs , tying the highest individual total by a Pitt player in a match this season. Stanford actually held a 54-45 advantage in digs, but Pitt's efficiency and blocking allowed the Panthers to win each of the three close sets. Jordyn Harvey Leads Stanford Stanford had several productive individual performances despite the loss. Jordyn Harvey led the Cardinal with 15 kills , while Julia Blyashov contributed 13 kills, six digs, two blocks and three assists. Middle blocker Lizzy Andrew added 10 kills while hitting .455 and finished with four blocks. Setter Logan Parks recorded 34 assists, eight digs, four blocks, three kills and an ace , while libero Spencer Etzler led the defensive effort with a season-high 21 digs . Stanford consistently challenged Pitt late in sets, but the Cardinal could not convert those opportunities into set victories. Pitt Extends Winning Streak to 12 Matches The sweep added to an impressive collection of streaks for Pitt. The Panthers are now 12-0 , matching the 1983 team for the fifth-longest unbeaten start in program history. Pitt's program record is a 23-0 start in 2018. Pitt has also won 21 consecutive sets since dropping the opening frame against Utah on Sept. 6. The Panthers are 5-0 at Victory Heights Arena this season and have yet to lose a set in the building. Even more impressive is Pitt's home winning streak. Sunday's victory was the Panthers' 58th consecutive home win , tying Florida's 1990-94 streak for the seventh-longest home winning streak in NCAA Division I history. Pitt also earned its sixth victory over a ranked opponent this season . The Panthers next travel to face Boston College on Friday at 7 p.m. , followed by a road matchup against Syracuse on Sunday. Stanford returns home to host Virginia Tech on Friday before facing Virginia the following night.
No. 24 North Carolina survived one of its toughest matches of the season Sunday afternoon, outlasting Wake Forest 3-2 in a five-set ACC thriller at Varsity Arena in Winston-Salem. The Tar Heels won 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 30-32, 15-9 , improving to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in ACC play . Wake Forest fell to 6-7 and 0-2 despite pushing the nationally ranked Tar Heels through a marathon fourth set and into a decisive fifth. Safi Hampton tied her career high with 22 kills while hitting .373 and added 13 digs , while Hailey Pearce stepped into a larger role following a first-set injury and delivered 11 kills. North Carolina Survives Wake Forest’s Opening Push The tone was established immediately. The first set featured six ties and two lead changes as neither team found much separation early. Hampton and Chelsea Thorpe led North Carolina with four kills apiece, while Thorpe also contributed three blocks. With UNC holding a one-point advantage, the Tar Heels used a 4-0 run to establish a 15-10 lead . Wake Forest responded quickly, cutting the deficit to 15-14, but the Demon Deacons never managed to pull even. North Carolina maintained control down the stretch and captured the opening set 25-21 . Wake Forest Answers in Second Set The Demon Deacons responded with another tightly contested frame. Wake Forest and North Carolina combined for seven ties and three lead changes in the second set. The Demon Deacons eventually created a 23-19 advantage, but UNC refused to let the frame end easily. The Tar Heels scored three consecutive points to cut Wake Forest's lead to one. This time, the Demon Deacons held on. Ryleigh Whitekettle delivered another late kill as Wake Forest finished the set 25-23 , evening the match at one set apiece. Hampton Delivers in Wild Third Set The third set was even closer. Wake Forest opened with a 4-1 run before North Carolina immediately answered to tie the score at 4-4. The Tar Heels later used a four-point surge to move ahead 12-9, only for the Demon Deacons to battle back again. Wake Forest eventually took a 19-17 advantage. Hampton responded with a kill and a service ace to pull UNC even, setting up a tense finish. Freshman Lyla Stewart recorded her 16th and 17th kills to tie the set at 24-24 , but North Carolina ultimately prevailed. Wake Forest survived two set points before Hampton supplied the finishing kill for a 26-24 victory . The set featured an extraordinary 16 ties and three lead changes . North Carolina now held a 2-1 advantage, but Wake Forest was far from finished. Wake Forest Wins 32-30 Marathon The fourth set became the defining battle of the afternoon. Stewart reached a major individual milestone when her 20th kill tied the score at 12-12, establishing a new career high. From there, the teams traded points deep into extra play. Wake Forest capitalized on a pair of North Carolina errors to tie the score at 24-24. Neither side could immediately finish the set, creating a dramatic sequence of repeated set and match-point opportunities. The frame eventually featured 11 set or match points before Wake Forest finally broke through. Sanaa Williams delivered consecutive kills to close the set 32-30 , forcing a fifth and sending the record-tying crowd at Varsity Arena into a deciding frame. Tar Heels Race to 9-2 Lead in Fifth After the exhausting fourth set, North Carolina wasted no time regaining control. The Tar Heels exploded to a 9-2 advantage in the fifth. Wake Forest's Kelis Hawkins opened the frame with a block, but North Carolina answered with a seven-point run. Stewart eventually stopped the surge with her 24th kill, but the damage had already been done. Wake Forest could not erase the deficit. North Carolina closed out the deciding set 15-9 , securing the five-set road victory. Pearce proved especially important in the final frame, producing a team-high three kills in the fifth set after being called upon because of an injury earlier in the match. Safi Hampton Ties Career High With 22 Kills Hampton delivered her strongest offensive performance of the season when North Carolina needed it most. She finished with 22 kills on a .373 hitting percentage , tying her career high. Her 13 digs gave her a second consecutive double-double. Her production was especially important during the third set, when Wake Forest repeatedly threatened to take control. Hampton produced the kill and ace that erased a 19-17 deficit before eventually recording the set-winning kill. Pearce's contribution was equally valuable under different circumstances. The senior entered because of an injury in the opening set and finished with 11 kills , providing North Carolina with crucial production throughout the remainder of the afternoon. Lyla Stewart Posts Career-High 24 Kills Wake Forest's Stewart delivered the biggest offensive total of the match. The freshman recorded 24 kills and 14 digs , producing her first career 20-kill match and third consecutive double-double. She also contributed two assists, two blocks and two service aces. Stewart has now accumulated 72 kills over her last four matches and has reached double figures in kills in each of those contests. She received plenty of offensive support. Whitekettle finished with 17 kills , while Williams added 14 kills and a team-high five blocks. Amina N'Diaye contributed eight kills and three blocks. Setter Becca Bellows posted a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs , while Emma Keeping added 26 assists and eight digs. North Carolina Extends In-State Winning Streak The victory extended North Carolina's success against programs from its home state. The Tar Heels have now won 11 consecutive matches against in-state opponents , while head coach Mike Schall improved to 16-4 in matchups against North Carolina programs. Wake Forest played the match in front of 945 fans , tying the largest home crowd in program history. North Carolina now returns to Chapel Hill for the first time since Sept. 4 and will host Clemson on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Wake Forest begins its first ACC road trip of the season at Miami on Oct. 2 , followed by a matchup at Florida State on Oct. 4.