Nebraska Athletics

Volleyball

Seven Byes, Three Bids Up for Grabs as Tournament Approaches

Huskers claim the top seed after securing outright Big Ten title

The first serve of the inaugural Allstate Big Ten Volleyball Tournament is only one week away. Twelve teams have clinched their spots, the Huskers secured the top seed, and those near the top eight in the standings are still in the hunt for those coveted single and double byes heading into a critical final weekend. The full update below. 
 
Offensive Onslaught Clinches Nebraska's Outright Title
The No. 1-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers are now sole owners of the 2026 Big Ten Championship after sweeping No. 25 Illinois in its 57th consecutive regular-season victory. The Huskers posted an outrageous .483 hitting percentage behind .600 clips from three different players: Teraya Sigler (13 kills, .684), Manaia Ogbechie (nine kills, .750), and Andi Jackson (nine kills, .643). Read more.

The victory also earns the Huskers the No. 1 seed in the inaugural Allstate Big Ten Volleyball Tournament, including a double bye. They’ll open postseason play in the quarterfinal on Sunday, November 22.
 
Gophers' Ranked Win Keeps Them on the Cusp of a Double-Bye 
The league’s top four teams will receive double byes to the quarterfinals of next week’s tournament; after a critical win over No. 22 Indiana, No. 19 Minnesota sits in sixth. The Gophers controlled the first set against the Hoosiers behind a .462 hitting percentage before carrying that momentum into the second. Indiana forced a thrilling fourth set, but Minnesota won 27-25 to keep their double bye hopes alive. Story here. 

UCLA Notches Second Ranked Win
Marianna Singletary recorded 19 kills, a .548 hitting percentage, and eight blocks to power UCLA to a 3-1 West Coast win over No. 18 Washington on Thursday. The Bruins’ net presence and efficiency shifted the dynamic of the game, as UCLA out-blocked the Huskies 12.5-4 and committed just 11 errors to UW’s 26. The victory puts UCLA in ninth place in the Big Ten standings — just one spot from a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Read more.
 
The Weekend Docket
Nebraska has already locked in the number one seed, and 12 teams have clinched their spots in the tournament. But there are still seven byes and three tournament bids to play for: 
  • Penn State sits tied in second at 12-3, and is hoping a win over the Illini will give them an edge. Illinois is right at the single-bye cutline in a two-way tie at 9-6. 
  • Tied with the Nittany Lions are Oregon and Wisconsin. The Ducks clash with a UCLA squad sitting just outside the top eight at 8-7, while the Badgers travel to Ohio State, who is looking to grab one of the three final tournament spots. 
  • Minnesota (10-5) hopes to keep climbing from its sixth-place spot and secure a quarterfinal bid against single-bye seeker Michigan State (7-8). 
  • Just behind the Gophers in seventh is Washington (9-6), who heads to USC with the Trojans eyeing a bid of their own. 
  • Purdue (T-5th, 10-5) and Michigan (T-10th, 7-8) are only a couple wins away from one another in the standings and are both borderline in securing a bye or two. 
  • Indiana (T-10th, 7-8) hopes to bounce back against Northwestern and stay in the running for a first-round pass. 
  • Battling for one of those final tournament bids are Maryland and Rutgers. The East Coast rivals are tied in the standings and go head-to-head on Friday.
Check out the full standings to see where everyone stacks up heading into the final weekend, and get ready for the tournament. 


Be there to witness Big Ten history — single-session tickets for the inaugural Allstate Big Ten Volleyball Tournament are on sale now! Secure your seats here.

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