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.
*Note: The VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings are utilized for a team’s ranking
*The entire week’s schedule can be seen here.
THE BIG MATCH:
#4 Florida (18-1, 10-1) at #6 Kentucky (19-2, 10-0) – 7 pm ET
- How to follow: ESPNU/Florida Radio/Live Stats
A top-10 matchup occurs in Lexington, Kentucky that will weigh heavily on the SEC standings and who eventually wins the conference. Beyond that, it’s an opportunity for Florida revenge and a Kentucky sweep after the Wildcats won in four sets in Gainesville a few weeks back.
Starting with the visiting team, Florida has been rock solid all year long with just the one loss on the season. Unfortunately for them that loss came in a match to a team that now sits ahead of them in the SEC standings, but they get an opportunity to make up for that with their second go-around against Kentucky. They couldn’t find an answer for the Kentucky offense in the first match, but look for the strong Gators block and Rhamat Alhassan (1.77 blocks per set) to try and correct that.
The team hosting this one, Kentucky, did work early by winning on the road against Florida. Now, a victory in the final month would give them a two-match or more lead over everyone in the SEC and would give the Wildcats a chance to coast toward a conference title. Leah Edmond has been a star all season and will look for another big performance after logging 18 kills (.250) and nine digs in the first meeting between the two.
OTHER NOTABLE MATCHES:
#1 Penn State (21-1, 11-1) at #10 Michigan State (16-5, 9-3) – 7 pm ET
- How to follow: BTN Plus/Spartan Radio Network/Penn State Radio/Game Tracker
It’s not often the top team in the country visiting the number 10 team isn’t the match of the day, but that’s exactly what happens with this Big Ten clash. As the final month of the season commences, Penn State is neck-and-neck with Nebraska for the Big Ten lead (although technically is behind via tiebreaker). Michigan State needs to make a stand at home in this one to stay within striking distance of the top, as they look for their fourth top 10 win.
Washington State (14-10, 3-9) at #22 Colorado (17-6, 7-5) – 9 pm ET
- How to follow: Pac-12 Networks/Washington State Radio/Live Stats
The Buffaloes are riding high in the Pac-12 with wins over Oregon and Oregon State on the road last week. Those add to a run where Colorado has been victorious in five of six matches now, as they look to stay hot against a Cougars team that upended a ranked UCLA team just last week.
BEST OF THE REST:
Florida State (12-8, 6-6) at (RV) Miami (FL) (14-4, 8-4) – 6 pm ET
- How to follow: ACC Network Extra/Live Stats
TCU (10-11, 2-7) at #18 Baylor (18-5, 8-2) – 7:30 pm ET
- How to follow: Fox Southwest/Baylor Video/Game Tracker
Alabama (16-8, 4-6) at Auburn (12-8, 5-6) – 8 pm ET
- How to follow: SEC Network/Game Tracker
Northwestern (13-11, 3-9) at (RV) Illinois (16-7, 7-5) – 9 pm ET
- How to follow: BTN Plus/Illinois Radio/Live Stats
#5 Texas (17-2, 9-0) at Kansas State (9-14, 2-8) – 9 pm ET
- How to follow: ESPNU/Live Stats
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