There is a new top-ranked team in Division I volleyball, and it's not a surprise. Here are five things to take note of this week in the world of kills and digs:
1. Stanford takes top spot
In a rematch of the one of last season's best battles, Stanford defeated Penn State 3-2 on Friday at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal followed that with a 3-2 victory over Illinois, and those two wins propelled Stanford to No. 1 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, replacing the Nittany Lions, who dropped to No. 3.
Stanford junior Inky Ajanaku won her second consecutive Pac-12 defensive player of the week award. The Cardinal lost 3-2 to the eventual national champion Nittany Lions last year in a regional final. This was an early litmus test for both teams, and each could walk away with positives.
This weekend, No. 20 Duke, Penn and Santa Clara visit Stanford.
2. Pac-12 off to powerful start
Stanford is one of eight schools in the Pac-12 that are undefeated through the first two weekends of the season, along with Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Washington and Utah. Of course, some of them have tested themselves more than others.
This week, the unbeaten team that may have the most difficult time staying that way is No. 21 Arizona, which faces No. 2 Texas in Austin on Friday (8 p.m. ET, Longhorn Network).
3. New Lion already roaring
It didn't take long for 6-foot-1 freshman outside hitter Ali Frantti to establish herself as Penn State's newest young star. When your first college double-double comes against Stanford, it's clear you're the real deal.
Frantti had 22 kills and 11 digs against the Cardinal then added 14 kills and five digs in a sweep of UCLA. She has been the Big Ten's freshman of the week both weeks of the season.
The Nittany Lions play in the Villanova tournament this weekend, facing the host Wildcats, American, Yale and No. 24 Kansas.
4. Making the most of logistics
New Mexico State and UTEP are co-hosting an invitational this weekend, which is a neat idea. Las Cruces, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, are about 45 miles apart on Interstate 10.
The teams involved are New Mexico State (WAC), UTEP (Conference USA), BYU (West Coast Conference) and Colorado State (Mountain West).
The matchup of ranked teams is No. 9 BYU vs. No. 14 Colorado State, which will be Friday morning in Las Cruces. Then the Cougars will travel to El Paso to face UTEP on Friday night and return to play the Aggies in Las Cruces on Saturday. That final match between BYU and New Mexico State is on ESPN3 at 2 p.m. ET Saturday and features Cougars star Jennifer Hamson.
Meanwhile, the Rams will stay put Friday and play the Aggies in the evening then go to UTEP to face the Miners on Saturday.
By the way, the "neighbor" schools of New Mexico State and UTEP will play each other this season. But that won't be until late November.
5. Keep an eye on ... North Carolina
The 4-1 Tar Heels are ranked No. 17, with their only loss thus far at Illinois, which is ranked No. 12. North Carolina rebounded from that defeat with impressive wins on the road last weekend against other Big Ten teams -- Michigan State and Michigan -- and both were sweeps.
UNC senior Lauren McAdoo was named ACC player of the week after a combined 28 kills against the Spartans and Wolverines. To win two matches in Big Ten territory is a big deal for the Tar Heels, who were picked to finish third in the ACC behind Florida State and Duke.
In this weekend's Carolina Classic, the Tar Heels host No. 16 Kentucky, Georgia Southern and VCU.