Wisconsin volleyball’s third Big Ten loss of 2026 has preceded a drop in the rankings.

The Badgers now are ranked at No. 9 in the Nov. 9 AVCA coaches poll, marking their lowest rank of the 2026 season. They were No. 7 in the previous week’s poll.

The fall followed a four-set win over unranked Michigan State and a five-set loss to then-No. 11 Penn State. The loss dropped UW’s Big Ten record to 11-3, which puts the Badgers in a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings.

Other ranked Big Ten teams include No. 1 Nebraska, No. 10 Penn State, No. 12 Oregon, No. 13 Purdue, No. 18 Washington, No. 19 Minnesota, No. 22 Indiana and No. 25 Illinois. UCLA and Michigan State are receiving votes.

The coaches poll has looked at UW less favorably than RPI, which still has UW at No. 3 after the Penn State loss. The Badgers were No. 4 in the NCAA selection committee’s in-season rankings, but that was before the Washington and Penn State losses.

The Badgers will face a pair of unranked opponents on the road in the next week – Rutgers on Nov. 12 and Ohio State on Nov. 13.

Michigan State volleyball players try to block Wisconsin opposite hitter Decelise Champion's attack attempt in the Badgers' four-set win over the Spartans at the UW Field House in Madison on Nov. 5, 2026.

Full Nov. 9 AVCA volleyball coaches poll

  1. Nebraska (all 63 first-place votes)
  2. Pittsburgh
  3. Louisville
  4. Florida
  5. SMU
  6. Kentucky
  7. BYU
  8. Arizona State
  9. Wisconsin
  10. Penn State
  11. Tennessee
  12. Oregon
  13. Purdue
  14. Kansas
  15. Vanderbilt
  16. Texas
  17. TCU
  18. Washington
  19. Minnesota
  20. North Carolina
  21. Texas A&M
  22. Indiana
  23. Baylor
  24. Stanford
  25. Illinois

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where Wisconsin volleyball is ranked in AVCA poll after Penn State loss

Source: Yahoo Sports