Big Ten Weekly Volleyball Central - Dec. 10-16

Big Ten Volleyball   |  Big Ten Standings  |  Big Ten Composite Schedule

Big Ten Statistics |  NCAA Statistics  |  Big Ten Record Book  | Big Ten Weekly Release - Dec. 10

NCAA Tournament Bracket | Big Ten Volleyball NCAA Tournament Central

• Seven Big Ten teams were among the latest AVCA/TARAFLEX Top 25: #1 Nebraska, #10 Wisconsin, #12 Purdue, #14 USC, #15 Indiana, #17 Minnesota and #25 Penn State. Michigan and UCLA are receiving votes.
• In the most recent NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) rankings, five Big Ten schools were among the top 15, six in the top 25 and nine in the top 50 of the NCAA RPI report through games of Nov. 30. RPI rankings through games of Nov. 30: Nebraska 1; Wisconsin 11; Purdue 12; USC 13; Minnesota 14; Indiana 18; Penn State 32; UCLA 35 and Michigan 45. 
• The Big Ten leads all conferences with five teams advancing to the regional semifinals: Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin. The Huskers will host the regional semifinal and final in Lincoln, while Indiana and Wisconsin head to Austin, Texas and Minnesota and Purdue travel to Pittsburgh. 
• Regional action begins on Thursday with Minnesota at Pittsburgh on ESPN2, followed by Purdue vs. SMU approximately 30 minutes after match one, also on ESPN2. The winners of each match will play in the regional final on Saturday, Dec. 13. Semifinal action continues on Friday with Indiana at Texas on ESPN at Noon, followed by Wisconsin vs. Stanford. Nebraska hosts Kansas on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. Winners of Friday’s matches will play again on Sunday, Dec. 14. 
• The Big Ten’s 14 wins through the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament are its most since 2016. 
• Indiana is making its first appearance in the NCAA regional semifinals since 2010 and just its second all-time. The Hoosiers are one of two teams (Cal Poly) playing this weekend that weren’t in the NCAA Tournament last year. 
• Minnesota is heading to its first Sweet 16 since 2022 and first under head coach Keegan Cook. It’s the Gophers’ ninth regional semifinal in the last 11 seasons. 
• Nebraska advanced to an NCAA regional for the 14th year in a row and the 41st time in program history. The Huskers’ 41 regional appearances are the most in NCAA history, while Nebraska’s 14 consecutive regional appearances rank second nationally. Nebraska’s 136-38 all-time NCAA Tournament record is second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.782).
• Purdue advanced to its third straight regional semifinal and sixth in the last seven seasons following a pair of wins vs. Wright State and No. 6-seed Baylor. It will be the Boilermakers’ second matchup of the season against SMU, a team they beat in four sets on Sept. 14. 
• Wisconsin earned its 13th consecutive regional semifinal appearance and 23rd in program history. 
• 46 Big Ten volleyball players were recognized on the AVCA All-Region Teams, announced on Tuesday. Nebraska led all schools with seven selections, including Bergen Reilly as the West Region Player of the Year and Dani Busboom Kelly as Coach of the Year. Purdue’s Kenna Wollard was named Midwest Region Player of the Year, while head coach Dave Shondell was the Midwest Region Coach of the Year. Indiana’s Teodora Kričković was named the Midwest Region Freshman of the Year. Out of the North Region, Wisconsin’s Mimi Colyer was selected as Player of the Year and Kelly Sheffield was tabbed as Coach of the Year. In the Northwest Region, Minnesota’s Julia Hanson was named Player of the Year and Gopher head coach Keegan Cook was named Coach of the Year. 
• At least one Big Ten program has reached the NCAA national semifinals (Final Four) in all but one year since 2007, with at least one member institution advancing to the NCAA national championship match 13 times in that 17-year span. Current Big Ten schools have won a total of 13 national championships (11 while members of the conference). Penn State is the reigning National Champion with the Big Ten winning six of the past 12 National Championships (Penn State 3; Nebraska 2; Wisconsin 1).
• Six of the 14 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year semifinalists hail from the Big Ten. The list includes Nebraska’s Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly, Penn State’s Kennedy Martin, Purdue’s Kenna Wollard and Wisconsin’s Mimi Colyer. The finalists will be revealed on Dec. 15, and the Player of the Year will be announced in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 19.