Around the Big Ten Volleyball: October 27
Another week has gone by and once again the Big Ten proves why it is one of the best conferences in college volleyball.
This past weekend saw multiple matchups between ranked teams, yet all of them are still ranked within the top-15.
This week it goes as follows: No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 12 Purdue and No. 13 Penn State.
This coming week will be another doozy, so let’s take a look.
Doubleheader in Happy Valley this Weekend
Penn State returns home for a date with Maryland on Friday at 7:30 p.m., the following day they return to Rec Hall for a Saturday showdown against Illinois at 4 p.m.
This past weekend, the Nittany Lions went 1-1 in the Upper Midwest. On Friday, Penn State brought out the brooms and swept Minnesota, but the following fell to Wisconsin in five sets.
Seniors Kaitlyn Hord and Jonni Parker continue to lead the way for Penn State. Hord nabbed 15 and 21 kills, while Parker had 16 and 20 kills, respectively.
Both Maryland and Illinois sit in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten and are no pushover. The Terrapins are currently 17-5 on the year and 5-5 against Big Ten teams. The Fighting Illini meanwhile are 14-7 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play.
The last time the Terps and Nittany faced off in College Park, it was Penn State coming out on top with a reverse sweep. Meanwhile, this is the first time and only time this season Penn State faces Illinois.
Two RED-hot teams meet in Lincoln, with a tough weekend ahead for both
The biggest match of Big Ten play is on Wednesday when Nebraska welcomes Wisconsin to Lincoln. The match is set for 9 p.m. EST and can be seen on Big Ten Network.
The Cornhuskers are a perfect 10-0 in conference play and 16-3 overall. On Sunday, Nebraska topped Purdue, 3-1. Lauren Stivrins powered Nebraska by notching 14 kills and five blocks against the Boilermakers.
The Badgers meanwhile sit at 17-1 on the season and 9-1 in Big Ten play. Over the weekend, Wisconsin picked up wins over two ranked opponents, No. 6 Ohio State, 3-1, and No. 14 Penn State, in five sets.
All-American Dana Rettke was on fire picking up 16 and 24 kills, respectively. Another Badger that stood out was freshman Julia Orzol who totaled 32 kills across the two matches.
The road does not get easier for either squad, as Wisconsin heads to West Lafayette to face Purdue on Sunday and Nebraska ventures to face Minnesota on Saturday.
After a strong start to the season, the Boilermakers have fallen off the tracks, dropping two straight. Before losing to the aforementioned Cornhuskers, Purdue suffered a shocking defeat to Michigan State in five sets.
Caitlyn Newton continued her outstanding season, pacing the Boilermakers with 22 and 16 kills. Purdue faces Northwestern on Wednesday to try and get back in the win column.
While the Golden Gophers responded to their loss to Penn State, with a four-set victory over Ohio State. Stephaine Samedy racked up a team-high 22 kills to fuel Minnesota.
The Gophers head to Bloomington to take on Indiana on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
The Buckeyes travels to the Wolverine State
Ohio State dropped both their matches on the road to Wisconsin and Minnesota, this past week.
This week the Buckeyes will look to turn the tide as they head to Michigan before coming home. On Saturday Ohio State will be in Ann Arbor to take on Michigan, before closing things out on Sunday against Michigan State in Columbus.
This weekend it was Rylee Rader and Gabby Gonzales providing a spark for the Buckeyes. Rader picked up a team-high 14 kills versus Wisconsin, while Gonzales had a season-high 19 kills against Minnesota.
The Wolverines sit in the middle of Big Ten standings with an overall record of 14-7 and are 5-5 in conference play. The Spartans on the other hand are towards the bottom of the Big Ten sitting at 9-10 and 2-8 in Big Ten play.
Earlier in October, the Buckeyes swept both Michigan State and Michigan in consecutive matches and will look to replicate that again.
Matthew Scalzo is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mms7477@psu.edu.
