Check Out These Can’t Miss NCAA Week 3 Matchups

The Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge brings you two Top 10 showdowns this weekend in Palo Alto, Calif. No. 2/AVCA #4 Stanford will host No. 9/5 Penn State on Friday and No. 4/1 Minnesota on Sunday.

Live streaming and stats links are available here, on the VolleyMob TV schedule.

Minnesota (No. 4 VolleyMob/No. 1 AVCA) at Stanford (No. 2 VolleyMob/No. 4 AVCA)
Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge
Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. ET
Maples Pavilion | Stanford, Calif.

• The Golden Gophers, who have risen in the rankings following a 5-0 start, will meet two Top 25 programs in Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge action this weekend. It marks the first ranked opponents of the season for Minnesota.
• Minnesota is hitting at a .310 clip on the young season, while holding opponents to a .115 attack percentage.
• Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Samedy leads the Golden Gophers with 54 kills (4.15 per set) in 4 matches played, followed by redshirt sophomore middle blocker Regan Pitman, who has 49 (4.20 per set) through 5 matches and owns an efficient .483 attack percentage.
• The Cardinal fell to now top-ranked BYU last Friday, their only ranked matchup thus far, in 5 sets. Their match with Minnesota will be a big preconference test.
• Stanford owns a .298 attack percentage on the season, while holding opponents to a .128 hitting percentage.
• Junior outside hitter Kathryn Plummer has been strong for the Cardinal, notching a team-high 60 kills (3.75 per set) in 5 matches. Sophomore outside hitter Meghan McClure and junior outside hitter/opposite Audriana Fitzmorris are both hitting above .300 for Stanford.

Penn State (No. 9 VolleyMob/No. 5 AVCA) at Stanford (No. 2 VolleyMob/No. 4 AVCA)
Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge
Friday, Sept. 7 at 11 p.m. ET
Maples Pavilion | Stanford, Calif.

• Penn State has swept all 5 of its opponents this year, however, it will receive a big test when it meets 2nd-ranked Stanford on its home court Friday.
• The youthful Nittany Lions, comprised of 4 seniors, 3 juniors, 1 sophomore and 8 freshmen, will meet a more seasoned squad in Stanford, which has 4 seniors, 5 juniors, 5 sophomores and 2 freshmen.
• Penn State has held its opponents to a dismal .067 attack percentage, while hitting at an efficient .309 clip.
• Redshirt senior Nia Reed (43 kills, 2.87 per set) and redshirt senior Taylor Leath (42, 2.80 per set) lead the Nittany Lions through 5 matches played.

Nebraska (No. 8 VolleyMob/No. 7 AVCA) at Creighton (No. 14 VolleyMob/No. 14 AVCA)
Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET
CHI Health Center | Omaha, Neb.

• Defending national champion and 8th-ranked Nebraska has played each of its 5 matches thus far in the comfort of a packed Devaney Center in Lincoln, but that will change this Thursday, as the Huskers are set to meet 14th-ranked Creighton in Omaha.
• The Huskers’ lone loss came at the hands of national runner-up Florida in their home opener in 4 sets.
• Two freshmen, setter Nicklin Hames (161 assists, 9.47 per set) and middle blocker Callie Schwarzenbach (.326 attack percentage, 23 blocks, 1.35 per set), have been cutting their teeth against collegiate opponents as starters for Nebraska.
• Creighton has been busy compiling a strong resume, defeating 5th-ranked Kentucky in 5 and taking 10th-ranked USC to 5 sets before falling short of the upset.
• The Bluejays are led by seniors Jaali Winters (88 kills, 4.00 per set) and Taryn Kloth (87 kills, 3.95 per set) offensively.

Kentucky (No. 16 VolleyMob/No. 16 AVCA) at Texas (No. 6 VolleyMob/No. 6 AVCA)
Friday, Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. ET
Gregory Gymnasium | Austin, Texas

• 16th-ranked Kentucky fell to a trio of ranked foes to open the season before rebounding with wins over College of Charleston, Dayton and Kansas.
• The Wildcats will have a shot at earning their first ranked victory when they head down South to take on 6th-ranked Texas.
• The Longhorns began the season with strong ranked wins over Oregon and Florida opening weekend at the VERT Challenge, but fell in 4 sets at Wisconsin last Saturday.

Wisconsin (No. 3 VolleyMob/No. 2 AVCA) at Baylor (No. 15 VolleyMob/No. 15 AVCA)
Friday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. ET
Ferrell Center | Waco, Texas

• 3rd-ranked Wisconsin is riding high following its big upset over 2nd-ranked Texas last Saturday and will look to collect another ranked victory on the road when it takes on 15th-ranked Baylor.
• After opening the season 4-0, the Lady Bears faltered in 5 sets to UCLA and 4 sets to San Diego. They will look at their matchup with the Badgers as a way to get back on track.