Nebraska's Merritt Beason (left) celebrates a point against Arizona State with teammate Bergen Reilly (right) on Sept. 13 at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska’s two wins against Top-5 ranked teams last week has vaulted the Huskers back to No. 2 in the AVCA poll released on Monday.
The Huskers (10-1) were ranked fifth before impressive sweeps against Stanford and Louisville last week.
Nebraska was ranked second for two weeks earlier this season before its only loss, against SMU.
And now with Creighton moving up to No. 6, the state has two of the highest-ranked teams in the sport. Creighton (9-2) moved up three spots for its highest ranking in program history after Top-10 wins against Purdue and Kansas. Its previous best was No. 7 in 2017.
Pittsburgh remains No. 1, with a 9-0 record and having not lost a set. That includes three wins against Big Ten teams -- Penn State, Oregon and Southern California. Pittsburgh got 60 first-place votes in the poll, and Nebraska got one such vote.
Now begins 10 weeks of Big Ten play. The Huskers begin by playing UCLA (6-3) on Friday.
There are seven Big Ten teams ranked: No. 2 Nebraska, No. 4 Penn State, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 10 Purdue, No. 11 Oregon, No. 16 Minnesota and No. 20 Southern California.
Nebraska volleyball players Andi Jackson and Merritt Beason discuss NU's win vs. Stanford on Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Photos: No. 5 Nebraska volleyball hosts No. 2 Stanford — Sept. 18
Stanford's Ipar Kurt (15) goes up for the ball against Nebraska's Andi Jackson (15) and Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) during the third set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Harper Murray (27) spikes the ball against Stanford's Ipar Kurt (15), Lizzy Andrew (11) and Jordyn Harvey (5) on Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
NIKOS FRAZIER, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) and Andi Jackson (15) go up to block against Stanford's Ipar Kurt (15)Â on Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
NIKOS FRAZIER, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska head coach John Cook smiles after NU defeated Stanford 3-0 on Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
NIKOS FRAZIER, Omaha World-Herald
Stanford's Lizzy Andrew (11) spikes the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (8) hits the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Stanford at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (22) hits the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Stanford at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) blocks the ball and scores past Stanford's Elia Rubin (13) next to Nebraska's Andi Jackson (15) on Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
NIKOS FRAZIER, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's Merritt Beason (13) spikes the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Stanford at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
A look inside the Devaney Center as Nebraska takes on Stanford in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) and Rebekah Allick (5) go up to block against Stanford during the first set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (22) spikes the ball against Stanford during the first set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) and Rebekah Allick (5) go up to block against Stanford's Ipar Kurt (15) during the first set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Stanford's Kami Miner (2) sets the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Stanford's Ipar Kurt (15) celebrates after a kill against Nebraska during the first set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Harper Murray (27) spikes the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Stanford at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Stanford head coach Kevin Hambly during the first set of a college volleyball match against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Stanford's Kami Miner (2) sets the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Stanford's Anna Pringle (3) hits the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) and Andi Jackson (15) embrace Merritt Beason (13) after a kill against Stanford during the first set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Harper Murray (27) celebrates after a kill against Stanford during the first set of a college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska head coach John Cook reacts to a call on the court as assistant coach Jaylen Reyes reacts in the background during the first set of a college volleyball match against Stanford at the Devaney Center in ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com . On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.
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