Even though their big offense was [checks notes] getting steamrolled by the #1 team in the country.
I don’t think that losing on the road against the #1 team in the country that’s on a set winning streak should cost you top 25 votes. I know, I’m crazy like that. But that’s what the AVCA voters did with Marquette volleyball this week, as they lost the support gained after beating #24 Dayton.
Marquette’s win over East Carolina and loss to #1 Pitt resulted in the Golden Eagles going from 77 points in the AVCA top 25 poll last week to 39 points this week. This is exactly where Marquette was when they beat Dayton, right down to sitting at the unofficial #29 in the country spot. Arkansas dropped out of the top 25 but picked up 50 points to land at the spot right in front of Marquette, while Utah has nine points to stand behind the Golden Eagles.
There was a solidification of first place votes this week, but it’s kiiiiiiinda not really because Pitt beat Marquette. Yes, I’m sure the Panthers needed to beat MU to retain the top spot, but they’re now getting 60 of the 61 first place votes in the poll because both Penn State and Stanford lost this past week. More importantly there, Penn State actually lost to Pitt.
Continuing on with our conversation about Marquette opponents, Stanford slipped from #2 to #3 as a result of their loss to Nebraska on Wednesday. I get putting the Huskers in front of them, but that did result in Nebraska going from #5 to #2. Anyway, Creighton jumps up to #6 in the country, powered by wins over then-#6 Purdue and then-#10 Kansas. The Bluejays moved up three spots in the rankings, vaulting past #7 Wisconsin. Kansas actually moved up a spot in the rankings to #9 even with the loss to Creighton, and that’s because they also beat Purdue.
Yep, that’s five Marquette opponents in the top nine. Wheeeeeeeeee.
There is one more MU opponent in the top 25 this week, and they’re actually the only other team on the schedule even earning votes. That’s Dayton, and they’re still sitting there at #24 with only the loss to Marquette marring their record so far this season.
Marquette returns to action on Friday night at the McGuire Center when they welcome 12-0 UConn to Milwaukee to start Big East play. First serve there is set for 7pm Central, and FloSports will have the streaming broadcast for that one as well as Sunday’s 1pm start against Providence.
You can check out the entire top 25 right here.