5 Of 6 Ranked Big Ten Teams In Top-10, Purdue At #22

• Six Big Ten programs earned spots in the latest AVCA coaches poll, with five teams ranked among the top 10: No. 1 Penn State, No. 5 Minnesota, No. 7 Nebraska, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 9 Michigan State and No. 22 Purdue. Illinois is receiving votes in the poll.

• Since the 2012 season, four Big Ten schools (Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin) have been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA coaches poll a total of 46 weeks. During that span, the Nittany Lions have earned the top spot 24 times.

• Eleven Big Ten volleyball teams are ranked in the top 60 of the NCAA RPI as of Monday, including five of the top 20: No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Minnesota, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 24 Purdue, No. 25 Illinois, No. 29 Michigan, No. 34 Ohio State, No. 38 Maryland and No. 46 Iowa.

• Penn State middle blocker Haleigh Washington became the ninth player in school history and 45th in Big Ten annals to record 500 career blocks on Oct. 25. In the Nittany Lions’ four-set victory over No. 9 Wisconsin, Washington posted 14 kills, eight blocks, four digs and hit .448.

• Michigan State setter Rachel Minarick became the third player in school history and 45th in Big Ten annals to record 4,000 career assists on Oct. 21. In the Spartans’ straight-set victory over Maryland, Minarick posted 39 assists, three kills, hit .400, posted 10 digs, and an ace in the match to earn her fifth double-double.

• Based on past opponents’ winning percentage, Wisconsin has played the second-toughest schedule in the nation, while Ohio State has played the fifth-toughest schedule. Nebraska is sixth on the list, Minnesota is 13th and Penn State checks in at No. 14 out of 334 teams.

• Big Ten teams currently occupy five of the top 15 positions on the national team hitting percentage list, including three of the top five spots. Penn State leads the country with a .350 hitting percentage, followed by Purdue (.323) in third and Wisconsin (.299) in 10th. Minnesota checks in at No. 11, hitting at a .288 clip. Illinois rounds out the list at No. 13 in the NCAA, boasting a .282 team hitting percentage.

• Three active Big Ten coaches have recorded at least 600 career wins: Penn State’s Russ Rose (1,234), Nebraska’s John Cook (647) and Michigan State’s Cathy George (613). Rose currently ranks second among active Division I coaches in career victories, while Cook and George rank 15th and 19th, respectively. Michigan’s Mark Rosen continues to close in on the milestone, amassing 587 career victories so far and checking in at No. 22.

• Big Ten students currently occupy five of the top 15 spots nationally in hitting percentage, including two of the top five spots. Penn State’s Academic All-American Haleigh Washington leads the Big Ten and the nation with a .519 hitting percentage, while Wisconsin’s Dana Rettke ranks fourth, hitting at a clip of .453. Maryland’s Academic All-Big Ten selection Hailey Murray ranks sixth (.447), Wisconsin’s Tionna Williams ranks 11th (.427), while Penn State’s Academic All-Big Ten selection Heidi Thelen rounds out the list at No. 15 nationally with a mark of .412.

• Based on average attendance, the Big Ten currently has seven of the nation’s top 15 teams, including four of the top five. Nebraska leads the nation, averaging 7,907 fans per contest, Wisconsin is third with 5,969, Minnesota is fourth at 4,880, Penn State is fifth with 3,428, while Michigan State checks in at No. 9 with 3,068 patrons per contest. Illinois (2,803) and Purdue (2,388) round out the top 15 at No. 10 and No. 15, respectively.

• The media credential application for the 2017 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is now available. Media interested in covering the event can log on to ncaa.com/media and access the credential application via the link under the credential icon.

• 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.