The defending champions’ ranked status survived another week, folks.

Penn State women’s volleyball moved up to No. 24 in the latest AVCA Poll released on Monday afternoon. This extended the Nittany Lions’ consecutive week streak of being ranked to 562; the last time they weren’t ranked was in the final poll of the 1988 season.

Despite being swept by Purdue for the first time since 1987 on Friday and now losing a double-digit number of matches this season for the first time since 2021, Penn State kept its ranked streak alive with a four-set win over Illinois on Sunday. It also ended its three-match losing streak. In the process, it moved up one spot to No. 24, the second time this season it has risen in the rankings.

The Nittany Lions received 143 votes, 53 more than No. 25 Iowa State. They also stayed ranked by gaining 92 more votes than their unranked closest opponent, Florida. Along with Penn State and No. 1 Nebraska, the Big Ten was also represented by No. 9 Purdue, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 17 USC, No. 18 Indiana, and No. 20 Minnesota.

Penn State is now 14-10 and 8-6 in Big Ten play, as head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s team will look to extend its ranked status when it ends its three-match road trip against No. 20 Minnesota at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 14. Penn State will also take on Ohio State at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, at Rec Hall.