Five Big Ten Teams Set to Defend Home Courts on Week 3

Courtesy: Big Ten Conference

All 14 Big Ten volleyball teams are in action this weekend, with Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue and Rutgers playing at home. Conference teams will participate in six AVCA top-20 matchups.

• Seven Big Ten programs earned spots in the latest AVCA coaches poll, with four teams ranked among the top 10: No. 1 Minnesota, No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 5 Penn State, No. 7 Nebraska, No. 11 Illinois, No. 19 Purdue and No. 20 Michigan.

• 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 52 weeks. The Nittany Lions have earned the top spot 28 times.

• In the first two weeks of non-conference play, the Big Ten has amassed a 63-13 combined record, a winning percentage of .829. Ranked Big Ten teams hold a 33-1 record and a .971 winning percentage.

• Big Ten teams currently occupy five of the top 25 positions on the national team hitting percentage list, including two in the top five spots. Minnesota ranks fourth in the nation with a .310 hitting percentage, followed by Penn State (.309) in fifth. Michigan ranks 19th with .283, Wisconsin is 21st with .280 and Ohio State rounds out the list at No. 23 with a .276 hitting clip.

• A pair of Big Ten teams currently occupy two top-five spots nationally in blocks per set. Minnesota ranks second with 3.41 blocks per set, while Penn State is fourth with 3.23.

• Four Big Ten students rank in the top 30 positions for assists per set. Michigan’s Mackenzi Welsh holds the No. 11 spot with 11.53 per set, Purdue’s Hayley Bush (11.47) is No. 14, Illinois’ Jordyn Poulter is No. 21 averaging 11.2 assists a set and Wisconsin’s Sydney Hilley is No. 28 with 11.13.

• Three active Big Ten coaches have recorded at least 600 career wins: Penn State’s Russ Rose (1,251), Nebraska’s John Cook (696) and Michigan State’s Cathy George (626). Rose ranks first among active Division I coaches in career victories, while Cook and George rank 10th and 15th, respectively. Michigan’s Mark Rosen is closing in on the milestone, ranked 18th with 599 career victories.

• Based on average attendance, the Big Ten currently has six of the nation’s top 15 teams. Nebraska leads the nation, averaging 8,118 fans per contest, Wisconsin is second with 7,052 and Minnesota is third at 4,815. Penn State checks in at No. 7 with 3,279, Purdue is 13th with 2,093 and No. 15 Ohio State averages 1,903 patrons per contest.

• The 2018 Big Ten volleyball television package features 39 contests televised live, with 33 of those matches airing live on BTN, and highlighted by eight doubleheaders. Six other matches will be carried live on ESPNU, including this week’s Iowa State at No. 7 Nebraska on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2:00 p.m. ET.