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.
Week nine of the season ramps up on a Wednesday as seven ranked teams and another on the cusp continue their season. The leader in that clubhouse is our match of the day, which features our lone inter-top 25 meeting as it comes in the Big 12. Beyond that, the theme throughout the top matches today stays in the Big 12 as they are joined by the Big Ten with a sprinkling of the ACC.
*Note: VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings is utilized for a team’s ranking
*The entire week’s schedule can be seen here.
THE BIG MATCH:
#9 Kansas (16-3, 5-1) at #17 Baylor (16-4, 6-1) – 9 pm ET
- How to follow: Fox Sports Go/Baylor Video/Kansas Radio/Game Tracker
With Texas the lone unbeaten in the Big 12, Kansas and Baylor sit right behind with one loss each – both coming to the Longhorns. Now, they meet in Waco to battle things out for second and to stay right on the heels of Texas.
Kansas comes in on the road where they escaped in five last year in Waco. They led that one 2-0 before heading to a fifth in the final regular season match of the year when Kansas won the Big 12 outright. They’ve had a week to prepare for this one after their five-set loss to Texas in Lawrence. All-American Kelsie Payne dominated the Bears in two matches last year, averaging 18 kills (.316), 6.5 digs and five blocks in the pair.
Baylor has been rolling since their loss in Austin, including a sweep of a ranked Iowa State bunch two weeks ago. They’ve also won nine straight at home, although none have been against the caliber of team that comes into Waco tonight. Kansas did give up 36 kills to All-American Katie Staiger last year, but they also held her to a .116. With more pieces around her as a senior, she will need to avoid forcing the issue, trust her teammates and go for efficiency.
OTHER NOTABLE MATCHES:
#12 Wisconsin (13-4, 4-4) at Maryland (14-6, 3-5) – 6 pm ET
- How to follow: BTN Plus/Wisconsin Radio/Live Stats
After starting 2-4 in Big Ten play, Wisconsin scored big wins over Nebraska and Indiana last week to even back up to .500. Their next three matches come on the road now, including at Minnesota and at Penn State next, making this a trap game against a possible NCAA Tournament team in Maryland trying to overcome the injury bug.
(RV) Michigan (13-7, 3-5) at #11 Michigan State (13-4, 6-2) – 7 pm ET
- How to follow: ESPN3/Spartans Radio Network/Game Tracker
Two rivals from the state of Michigan meet in East Lansing as the Spartans have been hot to start Big Ten play while Michigan is treading water. The Wolverines biggest struggle has been playing on the road, where they are just 2-6. That benefits Michigan State, who is 6-0 at home and hosts this match.
BEST OF THE REST:
NC State (13-6, 8-0) at North Carolina (9-7, 6-2) – 6:30 pm ET
- How to follow: ACC Network Extra/Live Stats
#5 Texas (14-2, 6-0) at Texas Tech (13-6, 2-4) – 7 pm ET
- How to follow: Texas Tech TV/Live Stats
West Virginia (13-6, 2-4) at #24 Iowa State (12-4, 3-3) – 7:30 pm ET
- How to follow: Iowa State TV/Live Stats
#3 Minnesota (17-2, 6-0) at Ohio State (11-8, 4-4) – 8 pm ET
- How to follow: BTN Plus/Game Tracker
Leave a Reply