All 14 Big Ten volleyball teams are in action this weekend with 20 matches being carried on either BTN Plus or BTN2Go.
• In the first three weeks of non-conference play, the Big Ten has amassed an 89-29 combined record for a winning percentage of .754.
• Based on average attendance, the Big Ten has five of the nation’s top 15 teams. Nebraska is No. 1 in attendance, averaging 8,249 fans per contest, while Wisconsin is third with 5,958 and Penn State checks in at No. 5 with 3,585 patrons. Michigan State ranks ninth at 2,329 and Purdue is 13th with 1,950 people per match.
• For the third straight week, Nebraska was the unanimous top-ranked team in the latest AVCA coaches poll. Seven other Big Ten programs are ranked in the poll: No. 3 Minnesota, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 14 Purdue, No. 19 Ohio State, No. 20 Penn State, No. 22 Michigan State and No. 23 Michigan. Illinois is receiving votes in the poll.
• Nebraska has posted a .338 hitting percentage this season, which ranks second in the NCAA. Indiana ranks sixth, hitting at a clip of .307.
• Nebraska is averaging 15.11 kills per set, good for third in the country. Minnesota is ninth with 14.50 kills per set.
• After an impressive weekend that saw Purdue’s Danielle Cuttino named Big Ten Player of the Week, Cuttino earned espnW National Player of the Week honors after leading the Boilermakers to a win over nationally-ranked Stanford.
• Maryland’s Ashlyn MacGregor ranks second in the country, averaging 1.91 blocks per set. Illinois’ Ali Bastianelli ranks fifth with 1.74 blocks per set while Wisconsin’s Tionna Williams (1.70 blocks per set) and Minnesota’s Hannah Tapp (1.68 blocks per set), the reigning Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week, rank seventh and ninth, respectively.
• Michigan’s Jenna Lerg, who earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors, ranks fifth nationally with 5.65 digs per set.
• Based on past opposition’s winning percentage, Minnesota has played the toughest schedule in the nation thus far. Purdue is ranked third while Wisconsin checks in at eighth and Nebraska ranks 10th.
• Minnesota currently leads the nation with 3.66 blocks per set. Wisconsin is fifth with 3.29 blocks per set, while Maryland checks in at ninth with 3.06.
Leave a Reply