12 Big Ten Schools Hold Top-60 Slots In The NCAA RPI

  0 volleymob | October 11th, 2017 | Big Ten, College - Women's Indoor, News

Conference play continues this weekend with all 14 teams in action. Four matches will be carried on BTN, with the remaining contests streaming on BTN Plus.

• Six Big Ten programs earned spots in the latest AVCA coaches poll, with four teams ranked among the top 10: No. 2 Penn State, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 6 Minnesota, No. 10 Michigan State, No. 11 Wisconsin and No. 16 Purdue. Illinois and Michigan are both receiving votes in the poll.

• Based on past opponents’ winning percentage, Wisconsin has played the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation, while Nebraska has played the sixth-toughest schedule. Ohio State is eighth on the list, Penn State is ninth and Minnesota checks in at No. 11.

• Twelve Big Ten volleyball teams are ranked in the top 60 of the NCAA RPI as of Monday, including eight of the top 30: No. 1 Penn State, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 13 Purdue, No. 15 Michigan State, No. 22 Illinois, No. 29 Ohio State, No. 36 Michigan, No. 39 Maryland, No. 47 Iowa and No. 48 Northwestern.

• Big Ten teams currently occupy five of the top 15 positions on the national team hitting percentage list, including the top two spots. Penn State leads the country with a .352 hitting percentage, followed by Purdue (.349) in second and Wisconsin (.304) in ninth. Illinois checks in at No. 11, hitting at a clip of .299. Minnesota rounds out the list at No. 12 in the NCAA, boasting a .291 team hitting percentage.

• Illinois junior middle blocker Ali Bastian Elli has currently registered 102 total blocks in 55 sets to lead the conference and the NCAA with a 1.85 blocks per set average. Michigan State’s Alyssa Garvelink ranks eighth nationally, averaging 1.58 blocks per set.

• Three active Big Ten coaches have recorded at least 600 career wins: Penn State’s Russ Rose (1,228), Nebraska’s John Cook (642) and Michigan State’s Cathy George (609). Rose currently ranks second among active Division I coaches in career victories, while Cook and George rank 15th and 19th, respectively.

• Big Ten students currently occupy five of the top 10 spots nationally in hitting percentage, including the top spot. Penn State’s Academic All-American Haleigh Washington leads the Big Ten and the nation with a .509 hitting percentage, while Illinois’ Academic All-Big Ten honoree Ali Bastianelli ranks third, hitting at a clip of .469. Wisconsin’s Tionna Williams and ranks fifth (.444), while teammate Dana Rettke ranks eighth (.429). Maryland’s Academic All-Big Ten selection Hailey Murray rounds out the list at No. 9 nationally with a mark of .425.

• Penn State’s Abby Detering is one of nine standouts in the NCAA this season to record a triple-double. In the Nittany Lions’ 3-1 victory over then top-ranked Stanford on Sept. 1, Detering posted 23 assists, while adding 11 kills and 10 digs.

• Based on average attendance, the Big Ten currently has six of the nation’s top 10 teams. Nebraska leads the nation, averaging 8,204 fans per contest, Wisconsin is third with 5,955, Minnesota is fourth at 4,812, Penn State is sixth with 3,334, Illinois is eighth with 2,979, while Michigan State checks in at No. 9 with 2,587 patrons per contest. Purdue (2,019) and Iowa (1,818) round out the top-20 at No. 15 and No. 20, respectively.

• The 2017 Big Ten volleyball television package features 36 contests, with 31 of those matches airing live on BTN, and highlighted by 10 doubleheaders. Five other matches will be carried live on ESPN network.

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