Heavy Hitters & High Stakes: Volleyball Matchups to Watch This Weekend

Big Ten volleyball is in full swing after going 16-13 in the 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week, capped off by an  unforgettable night at Wrigley Field . The action doesn’t slow down, with contenders bracing for an action-packed slate of non-conference clashes across the country.  

With top-25 teams testing their mettle, here’s a preview of the biggest matches to watch this weekend. 

No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 12 Penn State 

Two volleyball titans collide at The Palestra in Philadelphia. No. 12 Penn State will rely on All-American hitter Kennedy Martin, who leads the team with 61 kills, to set the physical tone at the net. On the other side, No. 4 Stanford counters with fellow AVCA Player of the Year Watchlist member and middle blocker Lizzy Andrew, who leads the Cardinal with 28 blocks. 

Expect to see extended rallies and heavy reliance on transition scoring to decide tight late-set scenarios in this matchup. Watch on Friday at 6 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. 

No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 19 Texas A&M & No. 9 Texas 

No. 6 Wisconsin embarks on a demanding Lone Star State swing, visiting No. 19 Texas A&M in College Station before heading to Austin for a top-10 showdown against No. 9 Texas. Led by the playmaking of star setter Charlie Fuerbringer and the aggressiveness of freshman outside hitter Audrey Flanagan, the Badgers look to impose their attack against a physical Aggies squad hoping for its first 2026 win over a Big Ten opponent after losing to both Purdue and Indiana.  

Then we’ll have an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight rematch in Wisconsin’s duel against the Longhorns. Last season, Fuerbringer’s 57 assists helped the Badgers eliminate Texas and advance to the national semifinals. She’ll have to get everyone involved to top a Longhorn squad that's sat with the sting of that loss since December. 

Watch the battle against the Aggies on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on SEC Network before the postseason rematch with Texas on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

No. 20 Baylor vs. No. 1 Nebraska 

Top-ranked Nebraska welcomes No. 20 Baylor to Lincoln for the  renovated Bob Devaney Sports Center’s  first ranked volleyball match of the season. The unanimous Big Ten favorite Cornhuskers boast a loaded lineup anchored by their senior trio of reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Bergen Reilly, outside hitter Harper Murray, and middle blocker Andi Jackson. Baylor brings a fast-tempo offense to Lincoln with star sophomore Ksenia Rakhmanchik, but disrupting No. 1 Nebraska on its home floor requires nearly flawless ball control from start to finish. 

The Huskers look to continue their perfect start against the Bears on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. 

No. 24 Oregon vs. No. 7 Arizona State 

West Coast powers clash in Tempe as No. 24 Oregon takes on No. 7 Arizona State in the Snyder-Park Classic. The Ducks are riding an undefeated start to the season at 5-0 and have yet to drop more than one set in a match. Oregon is powered by Valentina Vaulet and Alanah Clemente, who combined average over 6.5 kills per set. Now, the Ducks run into a Sun Devils squad that swept three straight matches until losing to UC Davis Thursday night. Arizona State is led by former Wisconsin Badger Una Vajagić and her 85 kills. We’ll see how the Ducks defense responds on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

No. 14 Purdue vs. No. 8 SMU / No. 3 Kentucky 

No. 14 Purdue travels to the Bahamas for the Paradise Invitational, where it will take on Houston on Saturday and a top-10 opponent in either No. 8 SMU or No. 3 Kentucky on Sunday. Purdue’s offensive firepower from Addy Tindall (73 kills) and steady net play behind Dior Charles (22 blocks) make the Boilers a tough matchup. We’ll see if they can pull off an upset against either SMU’s fast-paced front row or Kentucky’s high-octane offense. Tune in on Sunday at either 1 p.m. ET (ESPN) or 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2). 

No. 16 USC vs. No. 23 Colorado 

Former conference foes clash in Los Angeles at the Galen Center as USC hosts Colorado on Saturday. USC features redshirt junior London Wijay and sophomore Abigail Mullen, who are averaging a combined 6.77 kills per set through four matches. The Buffaloes are rolling at 6-0 behind a defense holding its opponents to a .139 hitting percentage and ranking sixth in the nation with 3.27 blocks per set. We’ll see if the Trojans can overpower it on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on B1G+. 

The action does not stop there — both Michigan and UCLA have the chance to pull off upsets. Check out the full schedule  here.  

Photo credit: goducks.com