Penn State Men's Volleyball Drops to No. 16 in Latest AVCA Poll

The Nittany Lions lost three straight matches on their California road trip.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:26am

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Penn State men's volleyball has fallen one spot to No. 16 in the latest AVCA poll, released on Monday. The team lost three straight matches during their recent trip to California, falling to No. 5 USC, No. 2 Long Beach State, and No. 6 Pepperdine.

Why it matters

Penn State is a perennial powerhouse in men's volleyball, so this drop in the rankings is noteworthy. The team will look to bounce back in an upcoming match against No. 18 Ohio State as they aim to regain their top-10 status.

The details

The Nittany Lions lost to three strong opponents ranked in the top 10 during their California road trip. While the outcomes were not what the team had hoped for, the losses came against elite competition.

  • The latest AVCA poll was released on Monday, March 17, 2026.
  • Penn State lost to No. 5 USC, No. 2 Long Beach State, and No. 6 Pepperdine during their recent California trip.
  • Penn State will face No. 18 Ohio State on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The players

Penn State Men's Volleyball Team

A perennial powerhouse in men's collegiate volleyball, the Penn State Nittany Lions have been a top-ranked program for many years.

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What’s next

Penn State will look to bounce back in their upcoming match against No. 18 Ohio State on March 25th, as they aim to regain their top-10 ranking in the AVCA poll.

The takeaway

This drop in the rankings for Penn State men's volleyball highlights the competitiveness of the sport at the highest level, as even elite programs can struggle against other top-ranked opponents. The team will need to regroup and refocus as they seek to regain their status as one of the nation's premier men's volleyball programs.