Nebraska, Texas, Kentucky hold top three spots in latest DI women’s volleyball poll: AVCA

Virginia Adriano (Nebraska), Dagmar Mourits (Kentucky), and Cara Cresse (Louisville) are doing positive things for their respective Division I women’s volleyball team.

The Nebraska women’s volleyball team is keeping its undefeated streak alive after a major win against Penn State on October 3. 

The American Volleyball Coaches Association published its Division I week six poll Monday. The Cornhuskers have been at the top for every poll in the 2025 season.

A fresh face took on the spot of Cornhusker standout after her phenomenal match against Penn State. Coming from Turin, Italy, freshman Virginia Adriano has shown her amazing skills as not only a solo player, but an amazing team player as well.

Adriano played for Bergamo in Serie A1, which is Italy’s top professional league and has started to leave her mark in the United States.  

Nebraska’s next match is on October 10 against Washington.

Texas is No. 2, which the women have also held onto an undefeated streak for the sixth week in a row. 

Longhorn senior libero Emma Halter is one to keep watching. Halter has topped the scoreboard in digs for five matches in a row, and holds the top spot on the team for digs (147). Halter was also awarded Southeastern Conference (SEC) Defensive Player of the Week two seasons in a row. 

Texas will play against Tennessee on October 8. 

Kentucky is hanging at No. 3 with a current record of 10-2 and a seven-match winning streak.

The Wildcats freshman setter Kassie O’Brien, who was awarded SEC’s Freshman of the Week for the third week in a row, is starting her first season off with a bang. O’Brien collected 34 assists, two digs, and one service ace against Ole Miss.

Kentucky will return to play against No. 9 Texas A&M on October 8.

At No. 4 is Pittsburgh with a current record of 12-2 and a 12-match winning streak. 

Pitt’s freshman outside hitter Dagmar Mourits, originally from Rotterdam, Netherlands, has already left her mark in Western Pennsylvania.

Mourits has had many outstanding matches, one being against Penn State, where she received four of her six season highs. She is currently third on her team with kills (114) and points (134.5) and fourth in digs (79) in her first season. 

Pitt will face the Miami on October 10. 

Coming in at No. 5 is Louisville with a current record of 12-2 and a five-match winning streak. 

The standout Cardinal is the middle blocker Cara Cresse. Cresse is currently holding the top hitting percentage with .375 and is in the top five on her team in kills (143) and points (177).

Cresse is also a highly awarded athlete, ranking seventh in the nation last season in blocks per set (1.50) as well as being named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Player of the Week in the 2024 season. 

The Cardinals will go head-to-head with Virginia Tech on October 10. 

Bolded teams have moved ranks higher or lower from week to week.

25. Missouri 9-6, 21

24. Colorado 13-2, Received Votes

23. North Carolina 11-2, 25

22. Southern California 10-4, 17

21. BYU 14-2, 19

20. Indiana 13-1, Received Votes

19. Penn State 8-6, 16

18. Miami (FL) 14-1, 22

17. Tennessee 12-1, 20

16. Baylor 9-4, 15

15. Kansas 11-7, 18

14. Minnesota 13-2, 10

13. Creighton 11-5, 14

12. Purdue 12-2, 13

11. TCU 13-3, 12

10. SMU 11-4, 11

9. Texas A&M 12-2, 9

8. Arizona State 12-2, 8

7. Wisconsin 11-1, 7

6. Stanford 12-3, 4

5. Louisville 12-2, 6

4. Pittsburgh 12-2, 5

3. Kentucky 10-2, 3

2. Texas 12-0, 2

1. Nebraska 14-0, 1

Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Lily Dorf is a student-intern at Penn State University.