AVCA Rankings Week 6: Michigan State, Illinois Enter for First Time in Years

Previously unranked Illinois and Michigan State have entered the conversation, while Kentucky and Purdue have fallen.

For the first time since 2018, the Spartans have earned a spot in the AVCA poll. | Michigan State Athletics

October has kicked off with quite the shakeup to the AVCA Top 25 Rankings. 

Purdue fell out of the top 10 after losing to Oregon and Washington, and Kentucky's 29-game SEC winning streak ended with a five-set upset at Florida.

Meanwhile, the Gators took down Tennessee in straight sets, and previously unranked Illinois and Michigan State have entered the conversation. Nebraska and Pitt remain undefeated. 

Here’s a look at this week’s AVCA Top 25 Rankings and what programs are making waves as conference play heats up. 

AVCA Top 25 Rankings 

1. Nebraska (Previous Rank: 1) 
2. Pitt (Previous Rank: 2) 
3. Louisville (Previous Rank: 4) 
4. Kentucky (Previous Rank: 3) 
5. Florida (Previous Rank: 7) 
6. SMU (Previous Rank: 5) 
7. Wisconsin (Previous Rank: 6) 
8. TCU (Previous Rank: 9) 
9. Texas (Previous Rank: 8) 
10. Tennessee (Previous Rank: 11) 
11. Arizona State (Previous Rank: 12) 
12. Texas A&M (Previous Rank: 14) 
13. Oregon (Previous Rank: 17) 
14. Stanford (Previous Rank: 13) 
15. Indiana (Previous Rank: 15) 
16. Purdue (Previous Rank: 10) 
17. BYU (Previous Rank: 18) 
18. Penn State (Previous Rank: 16) 
19. Kansas (Previous Rank: 19) 
20. Washington (Previous Rank: 22) 
21. Minnesota (Previous Rank: 20) 
22. Michigan State (Previous Rank: NR)
23. Colorado (Previous Rank: 24) 
24. Illinois (Previous Rank: NR)
25. North Carolina (Previous Rank: 25) 

Oregon Ducks 

The Ducks made some of the largest movements in this week’s AVCA poll after the team handed Illinois its first conference loss of the season and managed a five-set comeback over then-ranked No. 10 Purdue. 

Reese Sheppard picked up a career-high 27 digs against Illinois and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 5.00 digs per set in the victory over the Boilermakers. 

Getting defensive🦆

Reese Sheppard is the @B1GVolleyball Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 5.00 d/s in the team's win over Purdue and Illinois.

📰 https://t.co/phCw4BBTe5

Second UO player to win the award (Ofoegbu, 2024). #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/YCarrbXYNq

— Oregon Volleyball (@OregonVB) October 5, 2026

The Ducks are now 12-2 overall with a 3-1 record in conference play. 

Florida Gators 

It’s possible no other program had a better week than the Gators. After going back-and-forth with Tennessee, they managed to sweep in three sets behind a season-high 15 kills from Logan King.

Then on Sunday, Florida ended Kentucky's 29-match SEC regular-season winning streak, taking down the Wildcats in five sets. 

Florida has now won 10 straight matches and sits way at the top of the SEC standings. 

Back in the Top-5 for the first time since Sept 25, 2023! https://t.co/Zkuadewiuq

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 5, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini 

The Fighting Illini are back in the AVCA poll for the first time since 2022. With an 11-4 overall record and a 3-1 Big Ten record, the Illini swept Washington on Friday and narrowly lost in four sets to Oregon on Sunday. 

Checking in at No. 24. pic.twitter.com/EDDgNLVOiB

— Illinois Volleyball (@IlliniVBall) October 5, 2026

Michigan State Spartans 

For the first time since 2018, the Spartans have earned a spot in the AVCA poll. 

Michigan State is currently 13-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, collecting clutch wins over UCLA and USC, and Penn State. The Spartans are off to their best start since going 17-1 in 2013 to start the season, while their 3-1 conference mark is their best start through the first two weeks of conference play since the 2023 season. 

The hype is real.

Secure your 🎟️’s now at https://t.co/t6XP4GmbBh pic.twitter.com/QvTHJdP7Z5

— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 5, 2026

Purdue Boilermakers 

Purdue drops out of the Top 10 after taking hits in Big Ten Play. The Boilermakers fell to Washington in three straight sets and suffered a reverse sweep to Oregon (25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 9-15). 

We're going to five. 🔒

Taylor Anderson reaches her third double-double of the season, recording 39 assists, 10 digs.

Four Boilers are in double-digit kills (Heaney, Vice, Charles, Tindall). pic.twitter.com/HWxwGqt7QU

— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) October 3, 2026

Middle Dior Charles posted her top offensive performance of the season against Oregon and added her name to the Purdue record books for hitting percentage in three sets, before finishing with 10 kills on a .286 clip and four blocks.