WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
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Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 10/2/2024, Last updated: 10/2/2024
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Big Ten Weekly Volleyball Central October 2-8

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AVCA Top 25 Poll | Big Ten Weekly Release

  • Eight of the Big Ten’s 18 teams are mentioned in this week’s AVCA Coaches Poll, announced on Monday. The poll includes No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Penn State, No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 10 Purdue, No. 11 Oregon, No. 12 Minnesota, No. 21 USC and No. 25 Washington. UCLA received votes in this week’s poll. 
  • Nebraska Head Coach John Cook earned his 700th career win at Nebraska with a 3-1 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Huskers’ Big Ten opener. Nebraska has won nine matches in a row, with five of those wins coming in straight sets. The Huskers earned their sixth top-25 win of the 2024 campaign on Sunday in a 3-0 sweep over then-No. 20 USC. 
  • Washington improved to 12-0 following a pair of 3-0 victories against Indiana and Illinois to begin its first season in the Big Ten. After receiving votes in the past five AVCA Polls, the Huskies sit at No. 25 in the nation. It’s the Huskies best start to a season since a 14-0 start in 2015. One of just four unbeaten teams in the nation, Washington looks to extend its win streak, visiting Iowa and Wisconsin this weekend. 
  • In Purdue’s 3-2 victory at Minnesota, the Boilermakers recorded 17 service aces, the second-most in program history. Five of Purdue’s 17 aces came in the fifth set and Raven Colvin posted seven aces, tying the program record for most aces in a five-set match. 
  • As of Tuesday, Penn State is first in the nation in kills/set (14.93), second in the nation in assists/set (13.75) and third nationally with its .323 hitting percentage. Freshman Izzy Starck who has helped guide the Nittany Lions to its national offensive presence is fifth nationally and first in the Big Ten with 11.09 assists per set.
  • Oregon extended its winning streak to 10 matches and opened Big Ten play with a pair of wins over Illinois and Indiana. Washington owns the longest win streak in the Big Ten with its 12-0 start to the 2024 season, followed by Oregon (W10) and Nebraska (W9).
  • UCLA dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 2 Nebraska in its Big Ten opener but earned its first Big Ten win over Ohio State in its first home match of the 2024 campaign. UCLA is back to receiving votes in this week’s AVCA poll and hosts Minnesota and Michigan this weekend.  
  • Sunday’s Nebraska vs. USC match on Big Ten Network averaged 326,000 viewers in Ally Batenhorst’s return to the Bob Devaney Sports Center since transferring from Nebraska to USC in the offseason. The Huskers swept then-No. 20 USC in front of 8,689 fans, for their 33rd straight home win. 
  • Alissa Kinkela was named Co-Player of the Week on Monday, becoming the Scarlet Knights’ first-ever player to earn the honor. Kinkela set the program record for kills in a match (29) and became the seventh Scarlet Knight of the rally scoring era to reach the 800 career kill mark. 
  • The second week of Big Ten play features three ranked match ups, starting with #3 Penn State vs. #11 Oregon on Big Ten Network on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. BTN will carry #21 USC vs. #12 Minnesota on Saturday at 11 p.m. ET and #9 Wisconsin hosts #25 Washington on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+. 
  • The NCAA committee will unveil a top 16 ranking on Oct. 20, giving teams and fans an idea of seeding ahead of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. It will be the only committee ranking prior to the official NCAA selection show on Sunday following the conclusion of the regular season.