Maryland looking to maintain momentum in Big Ten

All eyes will be on Maryland in Week 5 of the Big Ten Conference as action begins on Wednesday, with 14 more matches set to be played until Sunday.

The Terrapins were the sensations of the fourth week of the season. Their match on Saturday (October 22) against Northwestern, set to start at 8:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM UTC, will be broadcast live internationally on Volleyball TV.

Currently ranked ninth in the Big Ten, Maryland are turning their season around. After falling in their first five Conference matches, they have now won three in a row. Two of their victories took place over the weekend and the last was a straight-set road triumph against fourth-placed and four-time Big Ten champions Purdue. The Terrapins also overcame Northwestern, their opponents on Saturday, in straight sets.

Maryland's top players include junior middle blocker Anastasia Russ, who tallied 15 blocks across both matches and received the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award. Also performing well was junior setter Sydney Dowler, who earned the programme’s first-ever Big Ten Setter of the Week award.

Their opponents Northwestern are moving in the opposite direction. The 11th-placed Wildcats have a 3-5 Conference record, but lost their last three matches. Freshmen Kathryn Randorf (outside hitter), who registered 20 kills in last week’s setbacks against Maryland and Nebraska, and Sienna Noordermeer (setter), who had 61 assists during the same encounters, were the team’s standouts.

The second match broadcast live internationally this week will reunite Michigan State and Indiana on Sunday, October 23, at 2:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM UTC.

The Spartans are going through a difficult moment in the season, with five consecutive losses, and rank 12th in the Big Ten with a single win and seven defeats. Last week, they were on the losing end of their home duel with in-state rivals Michigan, falling 3-0, and were also topped by this week’s opponents Indiana 3-2 on the road. Freshman middle blocker Nil Olkur of Türkiye, with 13 kills, and graduate setter Zoe Nunez, with 47 assists, had good performances against Indiana.

For the Hoosiers, the victory against Michigan State brought a winless streak of four matches to an end. Currently ranked tenth in the Big Ten, Indiana have three wins and five losses in Conference play so far. Canadian sophomore outside hitter Mady Saris, who tallied 21 kills, and sophomore setter Camryn Haworth, who produced 46 assists, were key players in the triumph against the Spartans last week.

Besides the two duels available globally, five other matches will be broadcast to subscribers outside specific North and Central America locations.

Big Ten Conference matches on Volleyball TV - This week's schedule

October 19

Ohio State vs. Illinois (6:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM UTC)**

Purdue vs Nebraska (8:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM UTC)**

October 21

Rutgers vs. Northwestern (6:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM UTC)**

Maryland vs. Penn State (8:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM UTC)**

October 22

Maryland vs. Northwestern (8:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM UTC)*

Illinois vs. Nebraska (8:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM UTC)**

October 23

Michigan State vs. Indiana (2:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM UTC)*

*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.