The two most dominant teams in NCAA volleyball—the University of Nebraska and the University of Texas—started the season ranked No.1 and No.2. These teams have always been the best of the best, with Texas winning back-to-back National Championships; however, the season began with both teams falling to lower-ranked and unranked teams. Nebraska fell to SMU, losing in three sets; an upset to start off the Husker’s season. Similarly, Texas had an early season loss to No.18 Minnesota in a five-set thriller. Later on, Texas would lose to the unranked University of Miami and the undefeated Stanford University. Texas and Nebraska have always been two of the most dominant teams in NCAA volleyball, causing people to ask: what is happening? 

The usual top-ranked teams with some of the best recruits in the nation are falling with new, dominant teams filling in their spots. Could this mean a new era for college volleyball? Teams such as Pittsburgh, Stanford, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Creighton are controlling the NCAA rankings. Many of these teams remain undefeated, winning against some of the best teams in the country and ushering in a new era of competition in college volleyball.