Big Ten Weekly Volleyball Central - Oct. 16-22

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• Seven 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. 14 Minnesota, No. 16 USC. Washington and UCLA are receiving votes in this week’s poll. 
• Oregon’s Mimi Colyer was named the AVCA’s Division I National Player of the Week on Tuesday after earning Big Ten Player of the Week accolades on Monday. Colyer led the Ducks to a 2-0 week over top 25 opponents, averaging 6.0 points per set, 5.25 kills per set and hit a combined .354. Against No. 16 USC, the junior had 17 kills, nine digs and two blocks. Then posted 13 digs and a season-best 25 kills in a come-from-behind, five-set victory over No. 24 Washington for her 30th career double-double. Colyer is the second player from the Big Ten to be named National Player of the Week this season, with Purdue’s Eva Hudson earning the honor in week one. 
• The Big Ten’s four teams in this week’s top 10 are the most of any conference. The ACC has three and the SEC, Big East and Big 12 each have one. 
• USC broke its home women’s volleyball attendance record on Sunday in a 3-2 win over UCLA, welcoming 7,303 fans to the Galen Center. 7,303 is also the highest number of fans in all USC vs. UCLA volleyball matchups on either campus.
• Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Phoebe Awoleye, tied the Minnesota program match record with 14 blocks on Saturday in just three sets against Maryland. She set the program record for most blocks in a three-set match in Gopher history. 
• Nebraska and Penn State remain undefeated in Big Ten play (6-0). Nebraska topped #10 Purdue and Rutgers last week, extending their nation-leading home win streak to 36 matches. Penn State won a pair on the road last week at Michigan State and Indiana. The Nittany Lions visit Ohio State on Friday and host #14 Minnesota on Sunday in week four of conference play. The Huskers will play two on the road, at Michigan State Friday and at Ohio State on Saturday. 
• Saturday’s Ohio State vs. Nebraska match will be the first-ever match on NBC and the first of three Big Ten matches airing on NBC this season. 
• No. 10 Purdue hosts Indiana on Saturday for its first of two matches inside Mackey Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. Purdue announced that both matches are sold out, eyeing an attendance record of 14,876, bettering the previous record by nearly 4,000 fans. The Purdue volleyball team last played a match inside Mackey Arena in 2016 and is among the many teams who have transitioned matches into larger facilities to accommodate more fans. 
• The fourth week of conference play begins with a pair of matches on BTN on Wednesday evening. Illinois will host Indiana at 7 p.m. ET and Northwestern will host Iowa at 9 p.m. ET, Additional ranked matches and TV matches this week include #9 Wisconsin vs. #11 Oregon on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on B1G+ and #3 Penn State vs. #14 Minnesota on Sunday on B1G+. BTN will carry Michigan State/#2 Nebraska and Ohio State/#3 Penn State on Friday, #10 Purdue vs. Indiana on Saturday and Michigan vs. #9 Wisconsin on Sunday. 
• 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.