Two of the three teams that share the top spot in the Big Ten Women's Volleyball Conference, Ohio State and Wisconsin will have matches broadcast on Volleyball TV over the next few days - without any territorial restrictions - as the eighth week of conference play gets underway.
Big Ten 2022
Big Ten leaders Ohio State and Wisconsin featured on VBTV
The Buckeyes face Purdue on Thursday; Wisconsin play against Maryland on Saturday
Published 08:45, 08 Nov 2022
Outside hitter Gabby Gonzales has been a key player for the Buckeyes
As many as 14 matches will take place between Wednesday and Sunday as teams try to improve their positions in the standings. Ohio State and Wisconsin, who have won 13 of their 14 matches and share the top of the standings with Nebraska, are the hottest teams in the conference right now, and have both won their last 12 matches.
The Buckeyes, who defeated Northwestern and Michigan State last week, will play Purdue on Thursday, November 10, at 7:00 PM ET. Some of Ohio State's standouts in the season are senior setter Mac Prodraza, who leads the Big Ten in assists per set with 10.82, senior outside hitter Gabby Gonzales, who ranks first in aces per set with 0.42, and senior libero Kylie Murr, who is third in digs per set with 4.23.
Their opponents, Purdue are currently fifth in the Big Ten with nine wins and five losses. The Boilermakers have won their last three matches, including last week's encounters with Michigan State and Michigan. Senior libero Maddie Schermerhorn leads the Big Ten in digs per set with 4.51 while freshman outside hitter Eva Hudson is second in kills per set (4.42). The two received awards this week, with Schermerhorn being selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and Hudson earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honours.
The second match which will be available internationally will reunite Wisconsin and Maryland on Saturday, November 12, at 8:00 PM ET. The national champions had a strong week seven, with victories over Illinois and Indiana.
Fifth-year middle blocker Danielle Hart has been a key player for Wisconsin this season as she ranks second in the Big Ten in both kill percentage (.382) and blocks per set (1.63). Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Franklin is fifth in kills per set (3.81).
Maryland, who are 11th in the standings with five wins and nine losses, had a mixed seventh week. The Terrapins fell to Penn State, but bounced back to beat Iowa four days later. Junior middle blocker Anastasia Russ (third in hitting percentage with .364 and fourth in blocks per set with 1.49) and graduate middle blocker Rainelle Jones (third in blocks per set with 1.63) are the team's highest-ranked players in the conference's individual stats.
Two other duels - Purdue vs. Penn State on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET and Ohio State vs. Nebraska on Sunday at 4:30 PM ET - will also be available on Volleyball TV for subscribers outside specific North and Central America locations.
Big Ten Conference matches on Volleyball TV - This week's schedule
November 10
Purdue vs. Ohio State (7:00 PM ET)*
November 12
Purdue vs. Penn State (8:00 PM ET)**
Wisconsin vs. Maryland (8:00 PM ET)*
November 13
Ohio State vs. Nebraska (4:30 PM ET)**
*Matches available internationally
**Matches available outside the USA, Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curacao, DR-Hato Mayor, DR-Higuey, DR-St. Maarten, Granada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Tortola, Tortuga, Turks, Caicos, U.S. Virgin Islands.
