Big Ten Set for Three Top 25 Matches on Week 4

Courtesy: Big Ten Conference

All 14 Big Ten volleyball teams are in action this weekend, with Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Nebraska playing at home. Conference teams will participate in three top-25 matchups.

• Seven Big Ten programs earned spots in the latest AVCA coaches poll, with five teams ranked among the top-10: No. 4 Nebraska, No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 8 Illinois, No. 15 Purdue and No. 19 Michigan.

• In the first two weeks of non-conference play, the Big Ten has amassed a 94-21 combined record, a winning percentage of .817. Ranked Big Ten teams currently have a 47-5 record and a .904 winning percentage.

• Big Ten teams currently occupy four of the top-10 positions on the national blocks per set rankings, including three in the top-five spots. Penn State leads the country with 3.45 blocks per set, followed by Rutgers (3.07) in fourth. Minnesota ranks fifth with 3.04 and Indiana is No. 7 with 2.91 blocks per set.

• A pair of Big Ten teams currently occupy two top-15 spots nationally in kills per set. Michigan ranks fifth with 14.93 kills per set, while Minnesota is tied at No. 11 with 14.42.

• Six Big Ten students rank in the top-25 positions for blocks per set. Wisconsin’s Dana Rettke leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally, averaging 1.82 blocks per set. Minnesota’s Taylor Morgan is sixth (1.57), Penn State Kaitlyn Hord is 11th (1.53), Rutgers’ Stasa Miljevic is tied for 15th (1.50), Penn State’s Serena Gray is 18th (1.47) and Indiana’s Deyshia Lofton is No. 23 with 1.44 blocks per set.

• Michigan head coach Mark Rosen earned his 600th career win as the Wolverines defeated Oakland in straight sets on Sept. 7. Rosen becomes the fourth Big Ten head coach to amass 600 wins, along with Penn State’s Russ Rose (1,252), Nebraska’s John Cook (698) and Michigan State’s Cathy George (630). Rosen ranks 18th among active Division I coaches in career victories with 602.

• Based on average attendance, the Big Ten currently has six of the nation’s top-20 programs. Nebraska leads the nation, averaging 8,117 fans per contest, Wisconsin is second with 7,052 and Minnesota is fourth at 4,815. Penn State checks in at No. 9 with 3,279, Purdue is 16th with 2,077 and No. 18 Ohio State averages 1,903 patrons per contest.

• Big Ten students currently occupy two of the top-five spots nationally in hitting percentage. Michigan State’s Naya Gros leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally with a .490 hitting percentage, while Penn State’s Kaitlyn Hord ranks third, hitting a clip of .475.

• 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. This week Notre Dame at No. 19 Michigan will be live on BTN on Friday, Sept. 14, at 7:00 p.m. ET.