VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings (Week 16): Oregon Ends In The Top 10

One week remains in the season – yikes. But also, we get to crown a champion. We had mostly chalk in the latest rounds, but one upset from Oregon over Minnesota changes up the rankings a tad. Heading into Final Four weekend though, here’s what we’ve got:

1. STANFORD CARDINAL

• 32-1 (20-0, Pac-12)
• Last Week: #1; Won vs. (VM#11) #16 Washington State (3-1), vs. (VM#7) #8 Penn State (3-1)
• Next Week: vs./n (VM#3) #4 BYU
• The Cardinal got challenged in each of their matches, but came out with a pair of wins to head to their third consecutive Final Four. They’re now 16-1 against VM Top 25 competition at the time of play too; that one loss? BYU, who they get for a shot in the title game.

2. ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

• 32-3 (17-3, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #3; Won vs. (VM#20) #15 Marquette (3-0), vs. (VM#5) #6 Wisconsin (3-1)
• Next Week: vs./n (VM#5) #7 Nebraska
• Illinois made quick work of Marquette before meeting up with Wisconsin and beating the Badgers at home – something they didn’t do earlier this season. Jacqueline Quade and Jordyn Poulter have been great for Illinois, especially in pairing with their physicality up front (which Quade contributes to).

3. BYU COUGARS

• 31-1 (17-1, WCC)
• Last Week: #4; Won vs. (VM#19) Florida (3-1), vs. (VM#8) #5 Texas (3-0)
• Next Week: vs./n (VM#1) #1 Stanford
• Forget any questions of if this team could still make the Final Four without McKenna Miller. They did so with authority in downing Texas, earning a sweep of a team they edged out for the final top four seed. Now they look to beat Stanford for a second time as they look to make the National Championship match for the second time in the last five years.

4. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

• 27-4 (19-1, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #2; Lost vs. (VM#10) #15 Oregon (1-3)
• Next Week: None
• Minnesota just didn’t match up well with Oregon, who gave the Golden Gophers half of their losses this season. Still, overall they won the Big Ten over some great opponents and went 9-2 against every other VM Top 25 opponent at the time of play – including a pair of wins over Nebraska.

5. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

• 28-6 (15-5, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #6; Won vs./n (VM#9) #10 Kentucky (3-0), vs./n (VM#10) #15 Oregon (3-0)
• Next Week: vs./n (VM#2) #3 Illinois
• The Huskers dominated Kentucky to reach the Elite Eight and then received some good fortune with Minnesota falling to Oregon. From there, they downed the Ducks for a second time to reach a fourth straight Final Four – a truly remarkable accomplishment. They went 1-1 with Illinois in the regular season.

6. WISCONSIN BADGERS

• 25-7 (15-5, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #5; Won vs. (VM#21) San Diego (3-0); Lost at (VM#3) #3 Illinois (1-3)
• Next Week: None
• Wisconsin fought hard against Illinois but couldn’t pull off the upset. They once again finish just shy of the Final Four, but it’s a round further than they made it last year. With the core in tact now though, this team should be one of the best both in 2019 and 2020.

7. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

• 26-8 (14-6, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #7; Won vs./n (VM#12) Washington (3-0); Lost at (VM#1) #1 Stanford (1-3)
• Next Week: None
• The Nittany Lions didn’t lose a set in the NCAA Tournament until they met up with Stanford. That run should garner more experience for their young core and serve them well moving forward as they have a very bright future.

8. TEXAS LONGHORNS

• 23-5 (15-1, Big 12)
• Last Week: #8; Won vs./n (VM#14) Michigan (3-1); Lost at (VM#4) #4 BYU (0-3)
• Next Week: None
• For the second straight season, Texas falls short of the Final Four in the Elite Eight. They won the Big 12 again though and should be right back in this discussion next season with an opportunity to be even better considering the players they return.

9. OREGON DUCKS

• 23-11 (13-7, Pac-12)
• Last Week: #10; Won at (VM#2) #2 Minnesota (3-1); Lost vs./n (VM#6) #7 Nebraska (0-3)
• Next Week: None
• What an upset Oregon had in knocking out Minnesota to reach the Elite Eight. That’s quite the season for the Ducks, especially after a questionable start to the year. Finally, their strong recruiting classes came together for some postseason success and a top 10 finish.

10. KENTUCKY WILDCATS

• 26-5 (18-0, SEC)
• Last Week: #9; Lost vs./n (VM#6) #7 Nebraska (0-3)
• Next Week: None
• The Wildcats disappointed in that they couldn’t even snatch a set from Nebraska, ending a season in which they came up just short against some of the best teams they played. Still, an SEC title and a second round appearance is solid for the Wildcats.

11. WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

• 23-10 (12-8, Pac-12)
• Last Week: #11; Lost at (VM#1) #1 Stanford (1-3)
• Next Week: None
• The Cougars suffered their third loss to Stanford, but it was a very successful season in making it to the second weekend.

12. WASHINGTON HUSKIES

• 20-13 (10-10, Pac-12)
• Last Week: #12; Lost vs./n (VM#7) #8 Penn State (0-3)
• Next Week: None
• Washington’s highlight of the tournament was upending Creighton on the road in three sets. That ended in a tough sweep loss, but after a roller coaster year with some new pieces, the result is pretty good for the Huskies.

13. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS

• 29-5 (18-0, Big East)
• Last Week: #13; None
• Next Week: None
• The Bluejays suffered the same fate they did in 2017 – hosting as the 9-seed and falling in the second round. Things are tougher when you have a target on your back, as Creighton is finding out. That said, it’s been a great season for the Bluejays overall.

14. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

• 24-10 (11-9, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #14; Lost vs./n (VM#8) #5 Texas (1-3)
• Next Week: None
• Michigan kept it close with Texas, but just couldn’t come out on top in the fourth to extend the match. Moving forward, they do lose Carly Skjodt and Jenna Lerg to graduation, but should be able to build off of a strong December run.

15. PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

• 30-2 (17-1, ACC)
• Last Week: #15; None
• Next Week: None
• The Panthers put together an unbelievable season, winning 30 matches, dominating the ACC and earning a top 12 seed for the tournament. But that one-loss elimination tournament can be so cruel at times, as it was for Pitt, who had their first home loss in five to Michigan to end the year.

16. USC TROJANS

• 22-11 (13-7, Pac-12)
• Last Week: #13; None
• Next Week: None
• USC looked good in getting past Samford, but then were surprisingly swept at home to a 12-loss San Diego team. It’s been a bit of an inconsistent year for USC, so this was seemingly a thematic end, though it’s still disappointing nonetheless.

17. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

• 24-9 (12-8, Big Ten)
• Last Week: #17; None
• Next Week: None
• Purdue swept a really good ETSU team that had beaten Washington State and some others, but then couldn’t muster up enough to match Kentucky. Still, considering all of the new faces, this was a successful year for Purdue.

18. TENNESSEE LADY VOLS

• 26-6 (16-2, SEC)
• Last Week: #16; None
• Next Week: Non8
• The Lady Vols were one team who didn’t have the RPI to host, but were close to that level of play. They beat a strong CSU team and challenged Washington State. They finished ahead of Florida in the SEC and swept them head-to-head, so they finish the year in the top 20.

19. FLORIDA GATORS

• 26-7 (15-3, SEC)
• Last Week: #19; Lost at (VM#4) #4 BYU (1-3)
• Next Week: None
• Florida’s bracket broke in the first round for them to move forward, but their run to the second weekend should benefit this young team. They should be closer to the 2017 edition in 2019 than they were this year.

20. MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES

• 28-6 (15-2, Big East)
• Last Week: #20; Lost at (VM#3) #3 Illinois (0-3)
• Next Week: None
• Marquette did get swept by Illinois, but still it was a great season for the program. They made the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. With Allie Barber back for another year, they might have even higher expectations in 2019.

21. SAN DIEGO TOREROS

• 18-13 (13-5, WCC)
• Last Week: #21; Lost vs./n (VM#5) #6 Wisconsin (0-3)
• Next Week: None
• It’s funny how the tournament can work. Last year’s San Diego was a top 15ish team who fell in the second round. This year they were unranked by us coming into the tournament and made it a round further. Nonetheless, this puts them back on the map headed into 2019.

22. BAYLOR BEARS

• 20-9 (11-5, Big 12)
• Last Week: #22; None
• Next Week: None
• The Bears had some injuries throughout the year, but they finished strong and almost fought past Oregon into the Sweet 16. They end the year in the top 25 once again, as they’ve established a consistent program and will look to make the next jump in 2019.

23. CAL POLY MUSTANGS

• 25-3 (15-1, Big West)
• Last Week: #23; None
• Next Week: None
• It’s really unfortunate that Cal Poly was without Torrey Van Winden due to injury. For all we know, had she been good to play they could have been the team to upend USC. As it stands, it was still another great season overall for the Mustangs.

24. MISSOURI TIGERS

• 24-8 (13-5, SEC)
• Last Week: RV; None
• Next Week: None
• Missouri advanced to the second round yet again by sweeping Arizona, but couldn’t handle Nebraska on the road. They should be a set up for a strong 2019 now too.

25. UCF GOLDEN KNIGHTS

• 27-4 (18-0, AAC)
• Last Week: #20; None
• Next Week: None
• The tournament is very fickle. UCF had beaten FGCU twice earlier this year (6-1 in sets). All of the sudden, maybe with some added pressure, they fell in five and you’re season is over. It doesn’t take away how good of a year it was for UCF though and they wind up #25.

On the Cusp/’Receiving Votes’:

Arizona (22-11)

Utah (19-14)

Cincinnati (26-8)

South Carolina (20-10)

Colorado (18-14)

Texas State (27-7)

Maryland (18-14)

Colorado State (23-8)

Syracuse (19-9)

Pepperdine (22-9)

Others who Dropped Out:

None

Note: * signifies dropped out (previous ranking)

LIST VIEW:

Previous 2018 Polls:

VolleyMob Week 15 (Post First-Weekend)

VolleyMob Week 14 (Final Regular Season)

VolleyMob Week 13

VolleyMob Week 12

VolleyMob Week 11

VolleyMob Week 10

VolleyMob Week 9

VolleyMob Week 8

VolleyMob Week 7

VolleyMob Week 6

VolleyMob Week 5

VolleyMob Week 4

VolleyMob Week 3

VolleyMob Week 2

VolleyMob Week 1

VolleyMob Week 0/Preseason