Undefeated Nebraska Leads Charge as Big Ten Conference Play Arrives

Conference play is only a few days away, but that hasn’t stopped teams from declaring their status as contenders. With No. 1 Nebraska continuing its undefeated streak with a home win over No. 25 North Carolina and eight teams ranking in the top 25, the national picture is coming into focus. 

Huskers Stay Undefeated with UNC Win 

The No. 1 Cornhuskers continued rolling with another ranked win. A few days after setting a record for the largest indoor crowd in program history, Nebraska set a new Bob Devaney Sports Center record with 13 aces in a win against No. 25 North Carolina, it's most since 2005. 

Nebraska’s senior trio continued to shine, with Harper Murray and Andi Jackson posting 12 and 10 kills, respectively, while Bergen Reilly moved to fourth on Nebraska’s all-time career assists leaderboard with 34 on the day. More from the Huskers here.  

The Huskers, who also swept FGCU on Sunday, will now face Missouri on Wednesday in the rescheduled match from Wrigley Field, before opening Big Ten play against Rutgers on Friday. Missouri ranks among the nation's most efficient attacks, entering this past weekend 11th in hitting percentage. 

Next Up: The Best in College Volleyball 

Conference play is officially here and gets underway on September 24. Here are the matchups to look out for this week. 

Ducks Travel to Badgers in Cross-Country Test 

Both No. 23 Oregon and No. 6 Wisconsin enter conference play looking to make an immediate splash, and their high-stakes opener sets the tone in a loaded Big Ten race. Oregon’s familiarity in conference play starts with Valentina Vaulet, who leads the team with 152 points and 127 kills after finishing First Team All-Big Ten in 2025. She’ll face off against a Badgers team with three ranked wins already this season, powered by standouts Charlie Fuerbringer, Audrey Flanagan, and Eva Travis. 

Red-Hot Hoosiers Face UCLA 

No. 21 Indiana is one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a five-match win streak into its Big Ten opener against UCLA. The Hoosiers’ Jaidyn Jager, who is eighth in the conference with 131 kills, leads an Indiana attack against the Bruins’ Marianna Singletary, who leads the Big Ten with 65 blocks, and a UCLA team that has won four straight matches. 

Wildcats Host Trojans in Crucial Big Ten Opener 

Following Sunday’s sweep of UC Santa Barbara, No. 19 USC heads to Evanston to face a surging Northwestern squad coming off its fourth sweep of the season against IU Indy. The Wildcats' attack will be led by outside hitters Mara Štiglic, Bella Bullington, and Campbell Paris — who posted 15, 14, and 13 kills, respectively, in that victory — while the Trojans counter with their own high-powered trio of points leaders in Abigail Mullen, London Wijay, and Mia Tvrdy. 

These matchups are only the start of the slate as conference action officially begins. Check out the complete schedule here.  

Photo from huskers.com