If you're looking for the best college volleyball action in the country, you'll find it in the Big Ten conference. With six teams in our top 20 and plenty of programs just one big upset away from such a ranking, the competition between these teams is fierce!

This weekend, there are 11 matches on the Big Ten volleyball schedule, but these are the top five storylines you should be following.

1. Haleigh Washington is approaching the 1,000 kills mark.

Penn State senior middle blocker Haleigh Washington has been a key player for Penn State since she arrived in Happy Valley three years ago.

Over those three and a half seasons, Washington has taken a lot of swings -- 1,791 to be exact -- and 986 of those have found the floor. If she sticks to her season average of just under three kills per set, she should break the 1,000-kill mark against Purdue on Friday or Indiana on Saturday.


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Just last week, Washington's fellow Penn State senior Simone Lee hit the same milestone.

"Approaching her 1,000th kill is really exciting, and it's something we all want to share," Lee said. "It's very much so a team effort, and it's something we are all very proud of her for."​

Watch Haleigh Washington and Penn State in action versus Indiana, Saturday at 7 PM ET, live right here on FloVolleyball.

2. Chris Tamas is making his first return trip to Nebraska.

Illinois' first-year head coach Chris Tamas came to Champaign in February after two seasons as an assistant coach at Nebraska. On Saturday, he and his 15-4 Illini squad will travel to Lincoln to face the Huskers.

"It will just be more fun than anything and be good to see everyone again," Tamas said. "But if they know me well, they know we like to compete, so they better be ready."

Click here for more on Coach Tamas and the 2017 Illini squad.


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3. All about rivals for Michigan this week.

Michigan kicked off its week with a rivalry match versus Michigan State on the road in East Lansing on Wednesday night and will wrap up the week with a Sunday match versus the school's rival in all sports, Ohio State.

"[Rivalries are] just one of those things that makes sports great, and there couldn't be any better ones than Michigan State and Ohio State," Michigan head coach Mark Rosen said.


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The in-state rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State's volleyball teams officially began in 1990. The winner of the teams' head-to-head matches each season lays claim to a state of Michigan flag bearing the state motto "Tuebor" ("I will defend"). Michigan went into Wednesday's match looking to defend the flag after the two teams split last year and the Wolverines won more sets (5-3), but it was Michigan State walking away with a victory 3-1. The Spartans' senior setter Rachel Minarick set a new career high of 58 assists, but Michigan could still keep the flag, if it manages a sweep when the two teams meet again on November 15.

A win over Ohio State (Michigan's true archenemy) on Sunday would certainly go a long way toward lessening the sting of losing to MSU.

4. A rematch on deck for Badgers and Gophers.

Minnesota and Wisconsin have been two of the best teams in the Big Ten for the past few years, but Minnesota has owned the head-to-head series, winning 15 of the last 18 meetings between the Badgers and the Gophers.

In their second meeting of the season, Wisconsin has a chance to turn the tides. The Badgers are 4-4 in the Big Ten, but they've heavily front-loaded their conference schedule and just pulled off a massive upset over Nebraska last week.

5. Freshmen are taking over the world.

Well, not exactly, but the Big Ten does have some of the most talented first-year players in the country. You've no doubt heard all about Wisconsin's 6-foot-8 middle Dana Rettke, who is leading the Badgers in kills, and Minnesota's super springy opposite Stephanie Samedy.

But what about Michigan State libero Jayme Cox, who earned the starting spot over seasoned veteran Abby Monson?


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Or Iowa setter Brie Orr, who ranks in the top 25 nationally with 11.19 assists per set?

Don't forget Northwestern outside hitter Nia Robinson, second on the team with 237 kills, trailing only Big Ten kills leader Symone Abbott, and Morgan O'Brien who recently inherited the starting libero position at Illinois after senior defensive leader Brandi Donnelly went out with a knee injury.