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.
After an action filled Friday of night of matches, Saturday continues the weekend of women’s volleyball action with 16 ranked or ‘on the cusp’ teams in action for the day. For many, this is their second conference match of the season while others will be in their first as they look to get off on the right foot.
*Note: VolleyMob’s Top 25 is utilized for a team’s ranking
*The entire week’s schedule can be seen here.
THE BIG MATCH:
#6 Texas (8-2) at West Virginia (12-2) – 1 pm ET (WVU Video/Live Stats)
Morgantown plays host to a top-10 Texas squad as West Virginia looks for the upset to continue their hot start to the 2017 season, including a 12-2 record and a 1-0 beginning to Big 12 play.
For Texas, this is their first Big 12 match of the 2017 season. They lost the conference crown for the first time since Nebraska left the conference after Kansas took it from them in 2016, and you can be assured that these Longhorns are seeking revenge. That all starts in this tricky road match to start their 2017 Big 12 slate. Texas won both matches with West Virginia last year as Micaya White averaged 3.71 kills and 2.29 digs per set in the seven sets of play.
West Virginia played Texas tightly last year in what was the Longhorns’ Big 12 opener as well (also coming in Morgantown). The Mountaineers actually took the first set and had set point in the second but would go on to lose in four. Then freshman and now sophomore Payton Caffrey logged 26 kills while hitting .259, nine digs and two aces in that match and will look to lead the young Mountaineers to a marquee win after already taking down TCU this week.
OTHER NOTABLE MATCHES:
#23 Baylor (11-3) at TCU (8-4) – 3 pm ET (Fox Southwest/Baylor Radio/Game Tracker)
A pair of Big 12 teams meet up after going in different directions in their first conference match. Baylor took down Texas Tech while TCU couldn’t handle West Virginia in Morgantown. Back at home in Fort Worth now, they could score a top-25 win and their first marquee victory of the season while Baylor could use a strong road win to establish themselves as a true threat to the Big 12 title.
Iowa (12-2) at #2 Penn State (10-1) – 4 pm ET (BTN2Go/PSU Radio/Iowa Radio/Game Tracker)
Penn State was shocked at home yesterday as not only did #14 Nebraska defeat them but they were swept at home for the first time in 15 years. Now they look to rebound against a solid Iowa team that is off to a strong start and is 1-0 in Big Ten play after winning at Rutgers yesterday.
Ohio State (8-4) at #12 Purdue (11-1) – 8:30 pm ET (BTN2Go/Purdue Radio/Game Tracker)
Ohio State tripped up several times in the non-conference and fell out of the rankings altogether and will look to flip the switch in Big Ten play. They already took the first step by sweeping (RV) Maryland, but could really garner some confidence in a tough road environment against Purdue, who also swept their first Big Ten opponent in Northwestern.
BEST OF THE REST:
#25 San Diego (8-3) at Santa Clara (7-6) – 4 pm ET (WCC TV/Live Stats)
(RV) Maryland (11-2) at Indiana (11-2) – 7 pm ET (BTN2Go/Indiana Radio/Live Stats)
(RV) Illinois (10-2) at Northwestern (10-3) – 8 pm ET (BTN2Go/Illinois Radio/Live Stats)
(RV) Washington State (11-2) at Arizona (7-3) – 9 pm ET (Pac-12 Networks/WSU Radio/Live Stats)
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