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2026 Big Ten Volleyball Power Rankings: Who's Making a Move?

Three weeks into conference play and while some teams are distancing themselves at the top of the pack, tiers are clearly developing, a sign of conference parity and even more exciting matchups as the season progresses.
Abbie Harris|
Oregon's Holley McFadden (9) and Reese Sheppard (2)
Oregon's Holley McFadden (9) and Reese Sheppard (2) | Oregon Athletics

As the Big Ten Conference season progresses, teams are falling into their respective tiers within the standings.

The top and bottom of the conference remain consistent (though many lower-ranked teams continue to steal sets from those ranked above them). But within the high-middle of the conference, teams are fighting tooth and nail for every point, set, and match.

Six teams had clean sweeps this weekend, with two (Nebraska and Penn State) going a perfect 6-0. Three matches went to five, with an average margin of victory of 4 points.

Ten Big Ten teams are currently ranked in the AVCA Poll (the most of any conference), with an additional three receiving votes. As the season progresses, every team faces a gauntlet unlike any other conference, and all are fighting for their opportunity to play in the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in November.

We're nearly halfway through conference play. So, like last week, using statistics, records, and the eye test, read on to see how all 18 teams shape up against one another.

No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-0, 6-0, AVCA No. 1)

Previous Position: No. 1 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-0 vs. No. 18 Indiana, 3-0 vs. No. 6 Wisconsin

With their sweeps over Indiana and Wisconsin, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have solidified themselves as the best team in the conference. The Huskers currently boast the best offense and defense in the country in terms of hitting percentage, hitting .330 and holding opponents to .105. They are the only undefeated team in the conference and the country.

Three Huskers won Conference awards this week. Bergen Reilly took home her 15th career Big Ten Setter of the Week, middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie earned her first-ever Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, and outside hitter Harper Murray won co-Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time in her career. This is the second time that three players from the same team have all won Big Ten weekly awards, and both times it happened with Nebraska players.

While they haven't mathematically ensured their spot in the Big Ten Tournament, it would take an unprecedented collapse on the Huskers' part. Their remaining schedule is a nice mix of ranked and unranked teams, which may mean seeing more of Nebraska's dynamic bench players.

Up Next: Northwestern, No. 13 Purdue

No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (11-5, 5-1, AVCA No. 6)

Previous Position: No. 2 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-0 vs. Illinois (RV), 0-3 vs. No. 1 Nebraska

The Wisconsin Badgers may have split the weekend, but they still feel like the second-best team in the conference because it's difficult, looking at their remaining schedule, to predict who might beat them. While they have played some teams in the conference closely, the young Badgers have always found ways to come out on top.

Wisconsin's offense does continue to impress, out-killing their opponents 826-751 and hitting a solid .256. Freshman outside hitters Audrey Flanagan and Decelise Champion continue to balance one another out. Against Illinois, Flanagan had a match-high 12 swings with two errors, hitting .417 and two blocks. Against Nebraska, Champion had a team-high 12 kills and two blocks. It's beneficial for any team to have multiple players who can step up and make opponents' defenses uncomfortable, but it's particularly important for such a young team.

Wisconsin played well in their matches this week, with a decisive sweep over a red-hot Illinois team and two strong sets against Nebraska. As this team grows and plays together more, they will be difficult for other teams to overpower but their biggest weakness continues to be their youth and inexperience in overcoming adversity in the moment on the court. Similar to their non-conference schedule, the Badgers' conference schedule was front-loaded. Of their first six conference games, five are ranked and one is receiving votes.

Up Next: Maryland, Iowa

No. 3 Oregon Ducks (14-2, 5-1. AVCA No. 11)

Previous Position: No. 6 (+3)
Last Week: 3-1 vs. No. 22 Michigan State, 3-1 vs. Michigan

It feels like a new team enters the top five every week and this week, it's Oregon's turn. Their non-conference schedule gave them little wiggle room, with only one ranked opponent until they opened conference play. But since starting their Big Ten games, Oregon has steadily shown their strengths and silently climbed up the rankings.

Since their opening conference match against Wisconsin, Oregon has won the next five, four of which were against ranked or receiving-votes teams. This week, the Ducks played back-to-back games and dropped two sets by a total of 9 points. The Ducks were able to overcome a less-than-their-own-average offensive efficiency by being aggressive behind the service line and defensively, holding Michigan State to their second-lowest hitting percentage of the year at .147.

Co-Big Ten Player of the Week, opposite Alanah Celmente, had 15 or more kills in both games, hit a career-high .520 against Michigan State and had six blocks against Michigan. But she wasn't alone. Outside hitter Sjakkie Donkers also tallied double-digit kills in each game and Valentina Vaulet racked up six aces across the weekend.

Up Next: No. 18 Indiana, Rutgers

No 4. Michigan State (14-2, 4-2, AVCA No. 22)

Previous Position: No. 4 (No Change)
Last Week: 1-3 vs. No. 11 Oregon, 3-1 vs. Iowa

The Michigan State Spartans are holding tight in the top five for the second straight week following a 1-1 weekend that included a tight battle with Oregon. It was a tough decision between them and Washington, especially since Washington beat them, but their loss to Oregon felt like the more competitive of the two.

The Spartans have a top -10 hitting efficiency in the country (and 2nd best in the Big Ten) at .293. The Ducks were able to quiet that high-powered offense and limit reigning AVCA Player of the Week, setter Malayah Long, to only 32 assists and a team efficiency of .147. Michigan State out-blocked and out-aced Oregon, 12-7 and 7-6, respectively, but they just weren't able to put the ball away at the rate they needed to.

Against Iowa, Michigan State got off to a slower start but regrouped and shut down the Hawkeyes in nearly every statistical category. This is the second time this season that the Spartans were able to definitively bounce back following a loss, a good sign for Kristen Kelsay's squad as they continue their way through the slugfest that is the Big Ten this year.

Up Next: Illinois (RV), Northwestern

No. 5 Washington Huskies (13-2, 4-2, AVCA No. 20)

Previous Position: No. 5 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-0 vs. Ohio State, 0-3 vs. No. 15 Penn State

Parity is alive and well in the Big Ten and that's thanks to teams like the Washington Huskies, who have already matched their total wins from last year and are showing no signs of slowing down.

"We've been talking about preparation. How can we get ready to do our assignments from the start and keep it up throughout the match? I thought the girls did that well, so that's something we want to continue to build on," Washington head coach Leslie Gabriel said about her team.

The Huskies' strength this season has been their defense, holding their opponents to a .153 hitting efficiency and extending rallies to force their opponents to figure out new ways to score against them. On the flip side, Washington struggles against fellow defensive teams, hitting well below their .257 season average in their losses.

For example, they were able to hit a blistering .333 against Ohio State, committing only 7 errors. But against Penn State's size, they were held to a season-low .113 thanks to 8 blocks and 58 digs from the Nittany Lions. Gabriel has done a lot to bring her team into the athleticism of the Big Ten and they will have plenty of additional opportunities to show their growth against ranked opponents.

Up Next: Rutgers, No. 18 Indiana

No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (12-4, 2-0, AVCA No. 15)

Previous Position: No. 10 (+4)
Last Week: 3-0 vs Northwestern, 3-1 vs. No. 20 Washington
Up Next: UCLA (RV), USC (RV)

No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers (10-5, 3-3, AVCA No. 13)

Previous Position: No. 7 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-0 vs. USC (RV), 3-2 vs. Illinois (RV)
Up Next: Iowa, No. 1 Nebraska

No. 8 Illinois Fighting Illini (11-6, 3-3, AVCA RV)

Previous Position: No. 8 (No Change)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. No. 7 Wisconsin, 2-3 vs. No. 13 Purdue
Up Next: No. 22 Michigan State, Michigan

No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers (10-5, 3-3, AVCA No. 18)

Previous Position: No. 3 (-9)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. No. 1 Nebraska, 0-3 vs. USC (RV)
Up Next: No. 11 Oregon, No. 20 Washington

No. 10 Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-5, 3-3, AVCA No. 21)

Previous Position: No. 9 (-1)
Last Week: 3-1 vs. Rutgers, 3-0 vs. Ohio State
Up Next: Michigan, Maryland

No. 11 UCLA Bruins (12-4, 4-2, AVCA RV)

Previous Position: No. 11 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-2 vs. Maryland, 3-1 vs. Rutgers
Up Next: No. 15 Penn State, Ohio State

No. 12 USC Trojans (8-8, 2-4, AVCA RV)

Previous Position: No. 14 (+2)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. No. 13 Purdue, 3-0 vs. No. 18 Indiana
Up Next: Ohio State, No. 15 Penn State

No. 13 Michigan Wolverines (10-6, 2-4)

Previous Position: No. 12 (-1)
Last Week: 3-1 vs. Iowa, 1-3 vs. No 11 Oregon
Up Next: No. 21 Minnesota, Illinois (RV)

No. 14 Maryland Terrapins (12-5, 2-4)

Previous Position: No. 15 (+1)
Last Week: 2-3 vs. UCLA (RV), 3-2 vs. Northwestern
Up Next: No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 21 Minnesota

No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-7, 2-4)

Previous Position: No. 13 (-2)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. No 20 Washington, 0-3 vs. No 21 Minnesota
Up Next: USC (RV), UCLA (RV)

No. 16 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-8, 1-5)

Previous Position: No. 16 (No Change)
Last Week: 1-3 vs. No. 21 Minnesota, 1-3 vs. UCLA (RV)
Up Next: No. 20 Washington, No. 11 Oregon

No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-8, 1-5)

Previous Position: No. 17 (No Change)
Last Week: 1-3 vs. Michigan, 1-3 vs. No. 22 Michigan State
Up Next: No. 13 Purdue, No. 6 Wisconsin

No. 18 Northwestern Wildcats (7-10, 0-6)

Previous Position: No. 18 (No Change)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. No. 15 Penn State, 2-3 vs. Maryland
Up Next: No. 1 Nebraska, No. 22 Michigan State

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Abbie Harris
ABBIE HARRIS

Abbie Harris has been talking about women's sports to anyone who would listen, and sometimes to those who wouldn't, for as long as she can remember. She has been the host of a weekly Nebraska women's sports podcast for over a year, primarily covering volleyball, women's basketball, and softball. Harris holds three degrees, including a Ph.D. from Saint Louis.

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