Big Ten Conference play begins this week!

After almost a full month of non-conference matches and tournaments, the 18 teams that are part of the NCAA’s Big Ten Women's Volleyball division are set to begin conference play this week, with their eyes set on a spot in the National Championship.

As many as 18 matches will be held in the conference from Wednesday to Monday and three of them will be streamed live for VBTV subscribers around the world – Maryland vs. Northwestern, on Thursday, at 19:00 local time (00:00 GMT, Friday), Northwestern vs. Wisconsin, on Saturday, at 19:00 local time (1:00 GMT, Sunday), and Penn State vs. Michigan State, on Sunday, at 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

• Watch the Big Ten Conference matches live and on demand on VBTV

One of four programs to join the Big Ten this season, Washington are the only one among the 18 teams to have gone undefeated in their non-conference schedule. With ten wins, the Huskies, who this week host Indiana on Friday and Illinois on Saturday, will have a perfect record heading into conference play for the first time since 2016.

“I like how we're competing heading into Big Ten play,” head coach Leslie Gabriel said. “We've got to fine-tune some of our passing and serving and attacking mechanics. But they know how to come together.”

Senior outside hitter Madi Endsley (102 kills), junior setter Molly Wilson (220 assists), senior libero Lauren Bays (132 digs) and freshman middle blocker Julia Hunt (53 blocks) are some of the team’s early standouts in Washington’s first season as a member of the Big Ten.

Maryland in top form ahead of debut

Involved in VBTV’s Thursday’s featured match, Maryland and Northwestern had very different performances in their non-conference matches. The Terrapins won their most recent eight matches, holding a 9-2 win record ahead of the start of Big Ten matches. Graduate student right side hitter Samantha Schnitta (136 kills) and fifth-year setter Sydney Dowler (206) have been in great form for them.

With a new coach in Tim Nollan and a handful of new faces, Northwestern are in the early stages of their revamp and completed their non-conference calendar with two wins and six losses. Turkish junior outside hitter Buse Hazan (100 kills) and graduate student setter Alexa Rousseau (214 assists) have been the team’s pillars at the start of the season.

Big Ten Women’s Volleyball – Match Schedule & Results

Northwestern’s opponents in VBTV’s Saturday’s featured match, Wisconsin enter conference play with six wins and three losses. The team’s leading scorer with 162 kills, fifth-year outside hitter Sarah Franklin was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Week entering conference play.

VBTV’s weekly schedule of live matches available globally will be completed with the duel between Penn State and Michigan State on Sunday. Penn State have been nearly impeccable ahead of conference play, having secured 10 wins in 11 matches, in part thanks to great production by graduate student outside hitters Jess Mruzik (131 kills) and Camryn Hannah (126 kills).

Michigan State also had a positive record in non-conference play, completing their 11-match calendar with seven wins and four losses. Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson (128 kills) and Polish sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig (54 blocks) have been big parts of the Spartans’ playing system.

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