With six teams ranked in the top 20 nationally, the Big Ten features some of the most competitive college volleyball matches in the country every week.
It's a lot to digest, so we're here to help you know which matches and storylines to follow this week.
On Friday, Nebraska travels to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on Michigan State. The Spartans are ranked No. 8 in our NCAA top 20, and they've been every Big Ten opponents' worst nightmare, scoring three top-10 wins (two over Wisconsin and one over Minnesota).
For Nebraska, tied for first place in the Big Ten standings with a 9-1 league record, Michigan State is its last top-10 opponent of the regular season (and second-to-last top-20 opponent). If the Huskers can get past the Spartans in East Lansing, they'll be in a great position to finish at least tied for first place in the standings at the end November.
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Side note: Keep an eye on Michigan State Rachel Minarick. She earned the Big Ten Setter of the Week honor after surpassing 4,000 career assists in the Spartans' match versus Maryland. She ranks third all-time at MSU in career assists, and is only 131 away from moving up to No. 2.
Illinois is right there. Ranked fifth in the Big Ten conference and 23rd in the latest RPI, the Illini are good, but they haven't gotten that one breakthrough win that puts them on the map.
No doubt, Minnesota, which has only lost to Michigan State and Nebraska in the conference season, is a heavy favorite in Wednesday's match versus the Illini. But if Illinois can harness the power of Ali Bastianelli, the best blocker in the country with 1.80 blocks per set, and get their pin hitters converting in transition and on out-of-system plays, a win in Minneapolis would go really far for the Illini.
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Case in point: If Illinois were to win, it would improve its Big Ten record to 8-3, while Minnesota's would fall to 8-3, and the two teams would be tied for fourth in the standings.
The Badgers have found themselves on the losing side of top-10 battles way more times than they would like so far this season, and they're hovering at .500 (5-5) in the Big Ten.
However, Wisconsin heavily front-loaded its Big Ten schedule, and the Badgers only have three matches versus top-20 opponents left this year. One of those is Wednesday, when they travel to State College to face the nation's No. 1 team, Penn State.
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A win over Penn State wouldn't go too far in elevating the Badgers' Big Ten standing, but it would be huge for their RPI, which is a key factor when it comes to NCAA tournament seeding. Wisconsin is currently eighth in the latest RPI list, and Penn State is first.
Wisconsin's second match of the week will be versus Northwestern on October 28. Watch it live right here on FloVolleyball.
Ohio State and Purdue met for the first time this year on September 23, and the Buckeyes walked away with a four-set victory. Since then, however, Ohio State has struggled, and is tied for eighth in the conference standings with a 4-6 record. Purdue, on the other hand, is 6-4 and ranked in the top 20 nationally. If the Boilermakers want to stay there, they need to avoid the season sweep at the hands of the Buckeyes.
Watch Purdue vs. Ohio State, LIVE right here on FloVolleyball, Friday, October 27, at 7 PM ET.
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This week, the AVCA Coaches Poll did not change, meaning Penn State stayed at No. 1, Minnesota at No. 5, Nebraska at No. 7, Wisconsin at No. 9, Michigan State at No. 10, and Purdue at No. 17.
In our top-20 rankings, Penn State stayed on top and Nebraska remained at No. 5, but Minnesota rose from No. 8 to No. 6 after its victory over Wisconsin last week. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Purdue each fell one spot, to No. 8, No. 10, and No. 18, respectively.
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Friday, October 27
Purdue at Ohio State, 7 PM ET
Indiana at Maryland, 7 PM ET
Saturday, October 28
Iowa at Michigan State, 6:30 PM ET
Minnesota at Rutgers, 7 PM ET
Northwestern at Wisconsin, 8 PM ET
Sunday, October 29
Purdue at Maryland, 1 PM ET
It's a lot to digest, so we're here to help you know which matches and storylines to follow this week.
1. Nebraska gets ready to face its last top-10 opponent of the season.
On Friday, Nebraska travels to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on Michigan State. The Spartans are ranked No. 8 in our NCAA top 20, and they've been every Big Ten opponents' worst nightmare, scoring three top-10 wins (two over Wisconsin and one over Minnesota).
For Nebraska, tied for first place in the Big Ten standings with a 9-1 league record, Michigan State is its last top-10 opponent of the regular season (and second-to-last top-20 opponent). If the Huskers can get past the Spartans in East Lansing, they'll be in a great position to finish at least tied for first place in the standings at the end November.
USA Today Sports
Side note: Keep an eye on Michigan State Rachel Minarick. She earned the Big Ten Setter of the Week honor after surpassing 4,000 career assists in the Spartans' match versus Maryland. She ranks third all-time at MSU in career assists, and is only 131 away from moving up to No. 2.
2. Illinois' road match at Minnesota might just be the breakthrough win the Illini need.
Illinois is right there. Ranked fifth in the Big Ten conference and 23rd in the latest RPI, the Illini are good, but they haven't gotten that one breakthrough win that puts them on the map.
No doubt, Minnesota, which has only lost to Michigan State and Nebraska in the conference season, is a heavy favorite in Wednesday's match versus the Illini. But if Illinois can harness the power of Ali Bastianelli, the best blocker in the country with 1.80 blocks per set, and get their pin hitters converting in transition and on out-of-system plays, a win in Minneapolis would go really far for the Illini.
USA Today Sports
Case in point: If Illinois were to win, it would improve its Big Ten record to 8-3, while Minnesota's would fall to 8-3, and the two teams would be tied for fourth in the standings.
3. Wisconsin gets another chance at a top-10 upset on Wednesday.
The Badgers have found themselves on the losing side of top-10 battles way more times than they would like so far this season, and they're hovering at .500 (5-5) in the Big Ten.
However, Wisconsin heavily front-loaded its Big Ten schedule, and the Badgers only have three matches versus top-20 opponents left this year. One of those is Wednesday, when they travel to State College to face the nation's No. 1 team, Penn State.
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A win over Penn State wouldn't go too far in elevating the Badgers' Big Ten standing, but it would be huge for their RPI, which is a key factor when it comes to NCAA tournament seeding. Wisconsin is currently eighth in the latest RPI list, and Penn State is first.
Wisconsin's second match of the week will be versus Northwestern on October 28. Watch it live right here on FloVolleyball.
4. A big-time rematch ahead for Purdue and Ohio State.
Ohio State and Purdue met for the first time this year on September 23, and the Buckeyes walked away with a four-set victory. Since then, however, Ohio State has struggled, and is tied for eighth in the conference standings with a 4-6 record. Purdue, on the other hand, is 6-4 and ranked in the top 20 nationally. If the Boilermakers want to stay there, they need to avoid the season sweep at the hands of the Buckeyes.
Watch Purdue vs. Ohio State, LIVE right here on FloVolleyball, Friday, October 27, at 7 PM ET.
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5. Big Ten schools representing in the national rankings.
This week, the AVCA Coaches Poll did not change, meaning Penn State stayed at No. 1, Minnesota at No. 5, Nebraska at No. 7, Wisconsin at No. 9, Michigan State at No. 10, and Purdue at No. 17.
In our top-20 rankings, Penn State stayed on top and Nebraska remained at No. 5, but Minnesota rose from No. 8 to No. 6 after its victory over Wisconsin last week. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Purdue each fell one spot, to No. 8, No. 10, and No. 18, respectively.
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Watch six Big Ten volleyball matches live this week, right here on FloVolleyball.
Friday, October 27
Purdue at Ohio State, 7 PM ET
Indiana at Maryland, 7 PM ET
Saturday, October 28
Iowa at Michigan State, 6:30 PM ET
Minnesota at Rutgers, 7 PM ET
Northwestern at Wisconsin, 8 PM ET
Sunday, October 29
Purdue at Maryland, 1 PM ET