aditional conference power Southern Cal had a very rough start. The Trojans, who were tied for seventh with Washington in the preseason poll, lost to Marquette, Santa Clara and UC Irvine at home in the Galen Center. That sent the Trojans plummeting out of the this weeks rankings.USC lost national play

Opening weekend left no doubt: NCAA volleyball is back. Well start off with a very noteworthy upset, and then work our way through other highlights of the first weekend of play.1. Tar Heel triumphThese things just dont happen to Penn State in volleyball. The Nittany Lions very rarely lose at home, and almost never to a non-conference opponent. They also dont let matches get away when theyve all but got a victory nailed down.But thats what makes sports endlessly fascinating, right? Seven-time NCAA champion Penn State was on the verge of closing out North Carolina in four sets Saturday. But trailing 23-18, the Tar Heels rallied for seven consecutive points to take the set. Then they won the fifth set 15-9, and won the Penn State Classic. Talk about a trophy that never expected to take an airplane trip.How unusual was this? It was just the 15th time -- ever -- that a non-conference volleyball opponent has won at Penn States Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions are now 316-15 in non-league matches there, and 580-34 overall.If anyone knew the historical significance, it was Tar Heels coach Joe Sagula, in his 27th year at North Carolina.This is going to be one that we will remember for a long time, Sagula said.The Tar Heels, whove won 12 ACC titles (most recently in 2014), were picked to win the league this year. Theyve consistently been a good program, albeit one with a losing overall record, 13-17, in the NCAA tournament. They had a tough end to last season, losing at home to Creighton in the NCAAs second round.But with four starters and their libero back, they had high hopes this season, and it couldnt have begun any better. North Carolina got 18 kills from sophomore Taylor Leath, who is from the State College, Pennsylvania, area and grew up watching the Nittany Lions. (By the way, shes also one of four players on the Tar Heels roster with the first name of Taylor. They must use nicknames a lot with this squad.).UNC freshman Julia Scoles made a great college debut, winning tournament MVP honors by compiling 30 kills and 33 digs in the Tar Heels three victories in State College. They swept Georgia Southern and West Virginia in their first two matches. North Carolina is now No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, with Penn State at No. 13.Next up for North Carolina? Just a friendly neighborhood matchup Thursday with archrival Duke (6:30 p.m. ET, Watch ESPN.)The loss will no doubt motivate Penn State, which faces Colorado and Stanford this weekend in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in Boulder, Colorado.2. USC goes 0-3Speaking of the Pac-12, traditional conference power Southern Cal had a very rough start. The Trojans, who were tied for seventh with Washington in the preseason poll, lost to Marquette, Santa Clara and UC Irvine at home in the Galen Center. That sent the Trojans plummeting out of the this weeks rankings.USC lost national player of the year Samantha Bricio to graduation, so it was expected there would be some growing pains. But its doubtful anyone figured USC would open like this. The Trojans will try to get on track with another tournament at home this weekend, but the competition is challenging. They take on No. 23 Kentucky, Northern Iowa, and No. 22 Creighton.3. Huskers solidify No. 1In the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Oregon, last weekend, top-ranked Nebraska opened with a 3-1 victory against Florida and a sweep of Texas. Nebraska-Texas was a rematch of last seasons NCAA final and a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2. And it wasnt very close. The Huskers prevailed 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, led by a combined 21 kills from the Rolfzen twins, Kadie and Amber.However, Texas did start with a 3-1 victory against Oregon. The Longhorns lost three key seniors from last year, and they wont have middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu, who is taking the season off to focus on academics. It may take a little while for Texas, now ranked No. 3, to really develop its chemistry.4. Hawaii looking to youngstersHawaii, which fell from No. 6 to No. 15, is still without All-American senior star Nikki Taylor, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. The Rainbow Wahine lost their opening matches to visiting Wisconsin and Kansas State, and then trailed Arizona 2-0. But behind sophomore outside hitter McKenna Granatos career-high 33 kills, Hawaii rallied to win 3-2. And perhaps more unusual than North Carolina having four Taylors is Hawaii having two McKennas. The other is freshman defensive specialist McKenna Ross.5. Keep an eye on ... WisconsinThe Badgers moved up to No. 2 in the rankings after three victories in Hawaiis tournament, and the rest of their non-conference schedule is also extremely challenging. Friday, theyll take on San Diego (which beat Stanford last Friday). Then Wisconsin also has matches on the road against North Carolina, Louisville, Texas A&M and Texas before starting the grind of Big Ten play. Nobodys going to question the Badgers strength of schedule, thats for sure. Hydro Flask 21 Oz Standard Mouth . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Hydro Flask Water Bottle Sale . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.flaskwaterbottle.com/cheap-hydro-flask-40-oz-wide-mouth-straw-lid-black-water-bottle.html . LOUIS -- St. Cheap White Hydro Flask 24 oz Standard Mouth Water Bottle .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Hydro Flask 40 OZ . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Aside from that whole being-the-BEST-GYMNAST-OF-ALL-TIME thing, Simone Biles is just your typical teenager. She loves Snapchat, hanging with her friends and watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians. OK, Im not actually sure most teenagers love that show, but she does, so just go with me here.Biles has spoken publicly about her love for the show and for its star Kim Kardashian. And because theres never been a publicity opportunity that Kardashian didnt like, she filmed a video last week wishing Biles luck at the Olympics..@KimKardashian wishing @Simone_Biles good luck in Rio is ?? #Rio2016https://t.co/A7DYi3B5Gp- NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2016Biles was obviously thrilled and responded immediately, and the two then exchanged tweets, talking mostly about Kardashians (adorable) daughter North.@KimKardashian Thank You So Much!!! ?? by the way Im obsessed with North! So adorable- Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 5, 2016She just started gymnastics! Maybe she can show you some moves? https://t.co/tX681WggCyv- Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) August 5, 2016And on Sunday, during the gymnastics qualifying event, it seemed North was equally enamored with Biles.dddddddddddd (Can you blame her, really?)North is watching @Simone_Biles in awe! Shes rolling around on the bed pretending to copy her lol- Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) August 8, 2016I will never understand why theres no video of this adorable moment, but Biles loved it all the same.aww that is just too cute! she totally needs a #gkSimone leo and shell be my mini me! https://t.co/VKQsXW0zlD- Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 8, 2016I dont know about you, but I cant wait to see the inevitable meeting of Biles and North after the Olympics. I have a feeling some serious somersaults will be involved.See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? 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