Every day at VolleyMob we will preview several of the most notable and interesting matches in NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball. We will offer an inside look at some of those top matchups each day as we carry along through the 2017 season.
The second Saturday of the season sees a myriad of ranked or receiving votes teams continue their early seasons. Among some of those schedules include clashes of teams with VolleyMob Top 25 recognition, with none standing above the BlueJay Invitational, a tournament hosted by Creighton that features three ranked teams and another receiving votes.
*Note: VolleyMob’s Top 25 is utilized for a team’s ranking
THE BIG MATCH:
#17 USC at #6 Creighton – 1:30 pm ET (Fox Sports Go)
Meeting in Omaha are a pair of squads who pulled off victories against higher-ranked teams in week one in #17 USC and #6 Creighton. Last year the two teams met in Los Angeles and participated in a five-set thriller that went USC’s way. Before that, the two met in the Sweet 16 in 2015 in a four-set win for the Trojans.
Creighton looks to have its best shot in that span to score a win over USC as they come in ranked sixth in the country after they defeated then #3 Washington in Seattle last week. They can score another Pac-12 ranked victory as they get USC at home.
USC also jumped in the polls after a strong week one. They went 3-0 in that opening week including a win over a top 20 Michigan squad. They now have a chance to jump even higher up on the day, as they also face #14 Kentucky.
OTHER NOTABLE MATCHES:
#24 Western Kentucky vs. RV(#27) Illinois – 10:30 am ET (LIVE STATS)
Western Kentucky surfaced into the top 25 after a perfect start to the season while Illinois impressed in week one to come close from doing so. The Fighting Illini will look to use their strong block against the Hilltoppers smooth offense.
#17 USC vs. #14 Kentucky – 7 pm ET (Jays Video)
As mentioned earlier, USC gets another top-15 team on the day with Kentucky. It’s a fun meeting of Pac-12 and SEC that could either supplant USC’s rise in the top 25 or could flex the Wildcats muscle again vs. the Pac-12 after they defeated Utah last week.
#4 Texas at #23 San Diego – 10:30 pm ET (TheW.TV)
Late at night in San Diego, California the Texas Longhorns will try to net a top-25 victory over San Diego. The Toreros were adept at upsetting volleyball powers in the non-conference last season and will try to recapture that magic.
BEST OF THE REST:
RV(#32) Wichita State vs. RV(#33) Marquette – 10 am ET (LIVE STATS)
#14 Kentucky vs. RV(#29) Northern Iowa – 11 am ET (Jays Video)
Colorado State at #16 Florida State – 3 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)
#5 Penn State at Texas A&M – 6:30 pm ET (SEC Network +)
RV(#29) Northern Iowa at #6 Creighton – 9 pm ET (Jays Video)
RV(#35) Cal Poly at #7 Washington – 10 pm ET (LIVE STATS)
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