Stanford, Louisville, and Purdue win thrilling weekend in college volleyball

The GIST: Volleyball season always goes from zero to 100 thanks to elite nonconference invitational matchups — and 2024 has been no different. Three squads made major statements with Top-10 wins this weekend, reshuffling the power rankings as we race toward the conference play grind.

🌲 No. 2 Stanford: The Cardinal’s hot start to the season got even hotter in last night’s home opener with a commanding sweep of superstar Madisen Skinner and reigning national champ No. 6 Texas. Stanford’s Kami Miner stole the show at Maples Pavilion and is well on her way to becoming the nation’s best setter, recording 35 assists and 10 digs in the smackdown.

• Stanford traditionally starts the season with the toughest schedule possible, and it’s really paying off this year: They’re now 7-0 for the first time in a decade with four ranked dubs. Too hot, hot damn.

🐦 No. 4 Louisville: Stanford’s not the only Cardinal feeling fly — the Louisville Cardinals shut down No. 9 Creighton’s fierce comeback attempt to take yesterday’s five-set thriller, rebounding from abysmal third and fourth sets to seal their second Top-10 win of the season. Down to the wire. Tonight we bounce back.

🚂 No. 7 Purdue: The Boilermakers are always competitive in the cutthroat Big Ten, but they looked particularly dangerous in Saturday’s 3-1 win over No. 10 Kentucky. Thanks to outside hitter Eva Hudson’s vicious attack, they’ve dropped just three sets in eight straight wins, and the volleyball world is taking notice.