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No team could stand in the way of the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team clinching its fourth consecutive Big Ten title.
Wrapping up their four-match road trip in the Pacific Northwest, the Huskers strangled No. 12 Oregon as part of a dominant sweep between the top-two teams in the Big Ten standings. One day later, against an equally hungry Washington squad, Nebraska laid down the hammer once again for its second-straight sweep of the weekend to secure at least a share of NU's fourth-straight conference championship.
Senior setter Bergen Reilly was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week for the second consecutive week to mark her fourth honor this season and 17th in her career. The Sioux Falls native averaged 13.33 assists per set in the two matches, which included her 49th career double-double versus Oregon with 43 assists, 11 digs, three kills and one block. She totaled 37 assists, eight digs, four kills and two blocks in the sweep against the Huskies.
With the inaugural Big Ten Volleyball Tournament on the horizon, the Huskers end their regular season with three straight home matches, including two matches this weekend. Here's all you need to know.
In the middle of coaching his 10th season at Illinois, former Nebraska assistant Chris Tamas has the Illini in position for a much-needed improvement after a disappointing 2025 season that saw his team go 13-16 and miss the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons.
After losing just two key contributors from last year in opposite Auburn Tomkinson (UC Santa Barbara) and middle blocker Burbage, the Illini possess a good mix of young and veteran talent in their 2026 roster. Leading the way is Tennessee transfer and starting opposite Paityn Chapman, who's ranked inside the conference's top ten in points per set. Returning senior outside hitter Taylor de Boer had high expectations after being named to the All-Big Ten Second Team last year, but she's seen limited playing time since being diagnosed with a rare disease over the offseason.
Taking her place has been returning sophomore Alyssa Aguayo from Arizona. She's second on the Illini in most offensive categories, including 2.91 kills per set. Top-100 recruit Madi Miles didn't see the floor very often in September, but has raised her game to power 3.22 kills per set so far this season — which has mostly come in October and now into November.
Returning starter Ashlyn Philpot fills a big need at middle blocker, but she's been unseated by Ukrainian middle Kristina Starostenko. After playing for the top team in the top division of French professional volleyball last year, Starostenko has dominated the Big Ten with a 0.418 hitting percentage (4th) and securing a team-high 87 blocks.
Illinois has continuity at setter with Kenna Phelan. The former Florida State transfer and Arkansas native has improved her output as a senior with 10.40 assists and 2.36 digs per set. While returner Taryn Kirsch excelled as the team's starting libero in 2025, she's been taken over by Brazilian and San Jose State transfer Talita Goncalves. After averaging 3.37 digs per set for the Spartans, she enters Thursday ranked third in the Big Ten with 3.91 digs per set.
A talented team with a veteran setter, multiple offensive options and a solid duo in the middle; it's no wonder why Illinois has shot back up the Big Ten standings and was able to upset No. 21 Indiana last Sunday. However, the Husker are just a different beast at this point, so it's a no-brainer for me to go with Nebraska once again.
2025 proved to be a breakout season for the Iowa volleyball program and head coach Jim Barnes.
Tasked with one of the hardest jobs in the country, Barnes led the Hawkeyes to their best season since 2016 with a 15-17 record that included two selections to the All-Big Ten Second Team in setter Claire Ammeraal and libero Milana Moisio. Unfortunately, both of those players are gone alongside leading point scorer Chard'e Vanzandt (Graduation), starting pin Alyssa Worden (Georgia) and sophomore middle blocker sensation Aleksandra Stojanovic (Loyola Marymount).
However, the retooling job by Barnes has Iowa just behind their pace from last year and their talent is much better than their 13-15 (2-12 B1G) record suggests. Hannah Whittingstall is one of the best offensive middles in the conference and leads the team in hitting percentage (.370) points (340) and kills (257) while also tallying 28 aces (2nd on team) and a team-high 98 blocks. Joining her in the middle has been one of the most impactful transfers in the Big Ten this year in Liv Mogridge. After one season at North Carolina, Mogridge spent her next three seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to Iowa City. She ranks second on the team with 301.5 points and owns a .317 clip.
The Hawkeyes had to reload on the pin and those efforts started with Oregon transfer Ksenija Tomic. The Serbian leads all pin hitters with 200 kills this season while chipping in 1.47 digs per set. The three other pin hitters possess similar stats in returners Hallie Steponaitis (2.36 K/S) and Rosa Vesty (2.44 K/S). Estonian Carmel Vares was a focal point for Iowa last season with 338.5 points, but she's had less playing time as a sophomore. That's seen her compile 173.5 points and 162 kills.
The Hawkeyes witnessed one of the best setter seasons in program history with Claire Ammeraal in 2025. The former Central Michigan transfer was the most offensive setter in the Big Ten and became the first Iowa player since 2021 to earn AVCA All-Region honors. 2026 starter Jenna Meitzler has followed in her footsteps after starring in a backup role last season. The Illinois native is 10th in the Big Ten with 10.35 assists per set and ranks second on the team with 29 aces. She's a dangerous offensive threat with 84 kills and 157 total points so far this season.
True freshman Henlee Moszkowicz has been tasked with replacing the production left behind by All-Big Ten Second Team pick Moisio. The libero from Texas averages 3.14 digs per set, but the Hawkeyes also have a strong defensive specialist in veteran Jaimie Marquandt. She's racked up 196 digs this season for 1.85 per set while also leading her team with 31 aces from behind the service line.
Iowa has one of the best middle blocker duos in the conference, but everything else restricts the Hawkeyes from elevating to the next level. The reason for the massive numbers from their middles is the lack of juice from the pin hitters, who all but one are hitting at .200 or below. The 3.14 digs per set from Moszkowicz is good, but it's far from the all-conference play Iowa received at the position last year. It'd be nice to see what the Hawkeyes could do if they were able to retain talent year-over-year, but this era of college sports makes that nearly impossible for a program like Iowa.
For those reasons, give me Nebraska to move to 42-0 all-time against their neighbors.
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