Opening weekend left no doubt: NCAA volleyball is back. We'll start off with a very noteworthy upset, and then work our way through other highlights of the first weekend of play.
1. Tar Heel triumph
These things just don't happen to Penn State in volleyball. The Nittany Lions very rarely lose at home, and almost never to a non-conference opponent. They also don't let matches get away when they've all but got a victory nailed down.
But that's what makes sports endlessly fascinating, right? Seven-time NCAA champion Penn State was on the verge of closing out North Carolina in four sets Saturday. But trailing 23-18, the Tar Heels rallied for seven consecutive points to take the set. Then they won the fifth set 15-9, and won the Penn State Classic. Talk about a trophy that never expected to take an airplane trip.
How unusual was this? It was just the 15th time -- ever -- that a non-conference volleyball opponent has won at Penn State's Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions are now 316-15 in non-league matches there, and 580-34 overall.
If anyone knew the historical significance, it was Tar Heels coach Joe Sagula, in his 27th year at North Carolina.
"This is going to be one that we will remember for a long time," Sagula said.
The Tar Heels, who've won 12 ACC titles (most recently in 2014), were picked to win the league this year. They've consistently been a good program, albeit one with a losing overall record, 13-17, in the NCAA tournament. They had a tough end to last season, losing at home to Creighton in the NCAA's second round.
But with four starters and their libero back, they had high hopes this season, and it couldn't have begun any better. North Carolina got 18 kills from sophomore Taylor Leath, who is from the State College, Pennsylvania, area and grew up watching the Nittany Lions. (By the way, she's also one of four players on the Tar Heels' roster with the first name of Taylor. They must use nicknames a lot with this squad.).
UNC freshman Julia Scoles made a great college debut, winning tournament MVP honors by compiling 30 kills and 33 digs in the Tar Heels' three victories in State College. They swept Georgia Southern and West Virginia in their first two matches. North Carolina is now No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, with Penn State at No. 13.
Next up for North Carolina? Just a "friendly" neighborhood matchup Thursday with archrival Duke (6:30 p.m. ET, Watch ESPN.)
The loss will no doubt motivate Penn State, which faces Colorado and Stanford this weekend in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in Boulder, Colorado.
2. USC goes 0-3
Speaking of the Pac-12, traditional conference power Southern Cal had a very rough start. The Trojans, who were tied for seventh with Washington in the preseason poll, lost to Marquette, Santa Clara and UC Irvine at home in the Galen Center. That sent the Trojans plummeting out of the this week's rankings.
USC lost national player of the year Samantha Bricio to graduation, so it was expected there would be some growing pains. But it's doubtful anyone figured USC would open like this. The Trojans will try to get on track with another tournament at home this weekend, but the competition is challenging. They take on No. 23 Kentucky, Northern Iowa, and No. 22 Creighton.
3. Huskers solidify No. 1
In the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Oregon, last weekend, top-ranked Nebraska opened with a 3-1 victory against Florida and a sweep of Texas. Nebraska-Texas was a rematch of last season's NCAA final and a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2. And it wasn't very close. The Huskers prevailed 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, led by a combined 21 kills from the Rolfzen twins, Kadie and Amber.
However, Texas did start with a 3-1 victory against Oregon. The Longhorns lost three key seniors from last year, and they won't have middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu, who is taking the season off to focus on academics. It may take a little while for Texas, now ranked No. 3, to really develop its chemistry.
4. Hawaii looking to youngsters
Hawaii, which fell from No. 6 to No. 15, is still without All-American senior star Nikki Taylor, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. The Rainbow Wahine lost their opening matches to visiting Wisconsin and Kansas State, and then trailed Arizona 2-0. But behind sophomore outside hitter McKenna Granato's career-high 33 kills, Hawaii rallied to win 3-2. And perhaps more unusual than North Carolina having four "Taylors" is Hawaii having two "McKennas." The other is freshman defensive specialist McKenna Ross.
5. Keep an eye on ... Wisconsin
The Badgers moved up to No. 2 in the rankings after three victories in Hawaii's tournament, and the rest of their non-conference schedule is also extremely challenging. Friday, they'll take on San Diego (which beat Stanford last Friday). Then Wisconsin also has matches on the road against North Carolina, Louisville, Texas A&M and Texas before starting the grind of Big Ten play. Nobody's going to question the Badgers' strength of schedule, that's for sure.