Volleyball On SI

Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge: Big Ten Pulls Ahead on Day 2

Day 2 of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge featured 11 thrilling games, including three five-set matches, as the Big Ten extended their lead over the SEC

Abbie Harris

Dec 18, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) celebrates after scoring a point in the fourth set against Kentucky in a 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinal match at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images
Dec 18, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) celebrates after scoring a point in the fourth set against Kentucky in a 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinal match at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Day 1 of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge featured eighteen teams, with the Big Ten edging out the SEC 5-4.

Day 2 included 22 teams, including 14 from Day 1 (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt) and 8 new teams (Auburn, Kentucky, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin).

At the end of Day 2, the Big Ten stretched their lead over the SEC 12-8 with three days and 10 games to go.

If you missed any of the matches from Day 2, read below for a brief recap.

Michigan State vs. South Carolina

Like day one, the Big Ten started day two with a win over the SEC as Michigan State swept South Carolina (25-14, 25-12, 25-13).

The Spartans rolled in all three sets, going on multiple long runs and never letting the Gamecocks find any rhythm or momentum. Early in the third set, South Carolina kept up with Michigan State, but the Spartans pulled away midway through thanks to their service pressure and timely mistakes by the Gamecocks.

Michigan State ended the Challenge 2-0 and South Carolina went 1-1.

Standout Performances:

Zora Hardison (Michigan State, MB) – 3 kills, 0 errors, .429 hitting  %, 5 blocks
Carmen Waye (Michigan State, MB ) – 11 kills, 0 errors, .688 hitting %, 5 blocks
Alanna Bankston (Michigan State, OH) – 18 kills, 1 error, .548 hitting %, 1 service ace
Malayh Long (Michigan State, S) – 35 assists, 5 service aces, 5 blocks
Lilly Gillespie (South Carolina, L) – 11 digs

Arkansas vs. Maryland

Maryland bounced back from their loss the day before to beat Arkansas 3-1 (24-26, 30-28, 25-22, 25-18) and earned another win for the Big Ten.

It was a gritty back-and-forth through three sets, as the teams traded points and leads through the first three sets. The Terrapins finally found their footing in the fourth set, with multiple 4-0 runs to pull ahead and stay ahead of the Razorbacks.

Maryland ended the Challenge 1-1 and Arkansas went 0-2.

Standout Performances:

Haley Melby (Maryland, OH) – 18 kills, .340 hitting %, 1 service ace
Ava Brown (Maryland, OH) – 14 kills, .367 hitting %, 6 blocks
Duru Gökçen (Maryland, MB) – 7 kills, 8 blocks
Parker Duncan (Arkansas, OH) – 18 kills, 2 blocks
Madi Benne (Arkansas, L)- 3 service aces, 11 digs

No. 21 Indiana vs. No. 12 Texas A&M

Indiana notched another win for the Big Ten in a grueling five-set battle against Texas A&M (26-24, 26-28, 25-23, 17-25, 15-9).  

The two teams were evenly matched, going toe-to-toe with runs and side-outs through the first three sets. The Aggies raced out to a quick lead in the fourth and never took their foot off the gas, but the Hoosiers followed suit in the fifth, ultimately taking the final set and the match.

Indiana ended the Challenge 2-0 and Texas A&M went 0-2.

Standout Performances:

Ella Boersema (Indiana, OH) – 21 kills, .471 hitting %, 6 blocks
Teodora Krikovi (Indiana, S) – 7 kills, 45 assists, 2 service aces
Kyndal Stowers (Texas A&M, OPP) – 29 kills, .317 hitting %, 2 service aces, 5 blocks, 34.5 points (Texas A&M record)
Eliza Sharp (Texas A&M, MB) – 10 kills, .588 hitting %, 8 blocks

No. 11 Minnesota vs. Auburn

Minnesota earned the Big Ten their fourth straight win on the day, besting Auburn 3-1 (25-12, 21-25, 25-16, 26-24).

The Gophers dominated the first set thanks to five service aces, and the third thanks to a 10-1 run early in the set. Auburn fought back in the second set and kept Minnesota at arm’s length. The teams battled hard in the fourth set, but ultimately, the Gophers came out on top.

Minnesota ended the Challenge 1-1 and Auburn is currently 0-1.

Standout Performances:

McKenna Wucherer (Minnesota, OH) – 21 kills, .314 hitting %, 4 service aces, 2 blocks
Elena Hoecke (Minnesota, MB) – 8 kills, 5 blocks, 2 service aces
Lauren Dreves (Auburn, OH) – 19 kills, 18 digs, 3 blocks

Ole Miss vs. Ohio State

The SEC got their first win of the day when Ole Miss beat Ohio State 3-1 (25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 25-22).

The first set was evenly matched until the Rebels went on a 5-0 run to close it out. The Buckeyes dominated the second set with multiple 4-0 runs. Ole Miss dominated the third set, with a 6-0 run early and another 5-0 run to close it out. In the fourth set, the Rebels’ 7-3 lead set the tone and held off the Gophers’ attempts to come back.


Ole Miss is currently 1-0 in the Challenge and Ohio State is 0-1.

Standout Performances:

Shayla Meyer (Ole Miss, OH) – 13 kills, .394 hitting %, 1 service ace, 3 blocks
Cameron Bradley (Ole Miss, L) – 3 service aces, 21 digs
Hannah Jones (Ohio State, OH) – 15 kills, 1 service ace, 10 digs, 2 blocks

No. 3 Kentucky vs. (RV) UCLA

Kentucky swept UCLA (25-13, 25-18, 25-23) in both teams’ debuts in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge.

Early on, the Wildcats used pressure from the service line, five service aces in the first, and their potent offense, a .469 hitting percentage in the second, to keep the Bruins on their heels through the first two sets. Both teams balanced out in the third set, with UCLA getting their first lead of the match and fighting off two Kentucky match points, but it just wasn’t enough to stave off the reigning runner-ups.


Kentucky is currently 1-0 in the Challenge and UCLA went 0-1.

Standout Performances:

Morgan Gaerte (Kentucky OH) – 16 kills, .364 hitting %, 2 blocks
Brooklyn Deleye (Kentucky, OH) – 15 kills, .344 hitting %, 2 service aces
Maggie Li (UCLA, OH) – 5 kills, 0 errors, 2 blocks
Ava Utterback (UCLA, OH) – 9 kills, .333 hitting %, 1 service ace, 1 block

(RV) Michigan vs. LSU

Michigan got another win for the Big Ten with a gritty 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21) victory over LSU.

The Wolverines controlled the first two sets, capitalizing on a run of Tiger errors. LSU fought back in the third set, and the teams traded runs in the fourth, ending with a 7-0 run by Michigan.

Michigan finished 1-1 in the Challenge and LSU went 0-2.

Standout Performances:

Cymarah Gordon (Michigan, OPP) – 16 kills, .343 hitting %, 4 blocks
Sydney Schnichels (Michigan, OH) – 9 kills, 3 service aces, 3 blocks
Morgan Burke (Michigan, S) – 27 assists, 11 digs
Jurnee Robinson (LSU, OH) – 21 kills, 3 service aces, 9 digs, 3 blocks, 25.5 points

No. 14 Purdue vs. Georgia

Purdue outlasted Georgia (27-25, 19-25, 25-10, 24-26, 16-14) in a five-set match that was as exciting as it was confusing at times.

The teams played tight in their first set, with the Boilermakers needing extra points to win. Georgia took advantage of a series of errors to go on a 12-2 run in the second that Purdue’s own 7-2 run couldn’t overtake. The Boilermakers came out motivated in the third set, allowing the Bulldogs to score only 10 points with an electric offense hitting .435 and a stifling defense holding them to a -.059. Purdue could not hold that momentum in a back-and-forth battle in the fourth and, despite getting out to an early four-point lead, allowed Georgia some hope before shutting the door in the fifth.

Purdue finished the Challenge 2-0 and Georgia went 0-2.

Standout Performances

Grace Heaney (Purdue, OPP) – 15 kills, 1 service ace, 16 digs, 3 blocks
Taylor Anderson (Purdue, S) – 45 assists, 17 digs
Bianna Muoneke (Georgia, OH) – 21 kills, .217 hitting %, 1 service ace, 13 digs, 3 blocks
Alyssa Worden (Georgia, OH) – 10 kills, 1 service ace, 16 digs, 2 blocks

No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 17 Florida

The sold-out crowd at the UW Field House was treated to a thrilling five-set Wisconsin win over Florida (25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-13) in the day’s first top 20 matchup.

The Gators had an early lead in the first, but the Badgers found their own momentum to take the set. Immediately in the second, Florida’s defense stepped up, holding Wisconsin to .189 hitting %, and cruised to tie the match. After trading points early in the third, the Badgers offense came back alive to get the set. Florida showed their own offensive prowess in the fourth, hitting .317 and forcing a fifth, winner-takes-all set that went back and forth until an untimely error from the Gators gave the Badgers their first home win of the season.

Wisconsin is currently 1-0 in the Challenge and Florida is 1-1

Standout Performances:

Grace Egan (Wisconsin, OP) – 17 kills, .314 hitting %, 2 service aces, 2 blocks
Charlie Fuerbringer (Wisconsin, S) – 4 kills, 55 assists, 15 digs
Kamryn Chaney (Florida, OH) – 22 kills, .347 hitting %, 5 blocks
Alec Rothe (Florida, MB) – 10 kills, .444 hitting %, 11 blocks

Vanderbilt vs. Rutgers

Vanderbilt extended their undefeated season with a 3-1 win over Rutgers (25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21).

The Commodores set the tone and controlled the pace in the first set despite the Scarlet Knight’s late push. Rutgers came out swinging, literally, in the second set, posting a .361 hitting percentage and holding Vanderbilt to .289 to tie the match. The Scarlet Knights’ offense kept hot in the third, hitting .407 but giving up .421 in a tightly contested set that ultimately went to the Commodores. Vanderbilt took the lead early in the fourth and never looked back, thanks to a series of micro-runs and limiting Rutgers’ momentum.

Vanderbilt finished the Challenge 2-0 and Rutgers went 1-1.

Standout Performances:

Kayla Dunlap (Vanderbilt, MB) – 13 kills, .407 hitting %, 4  blocks
Avery Scoggins (Vanderbilt, S) – 47 assists, 10 digs, 1 block
Samantha Wunsch (Vanderbilt, OPP) – 14 kills, .229 hitting %, 4 service aces, 11 digs, 1 block
Skylar George (Rutgers, OH) – 11 kills, 0 errors, .379 hitting %, 10 digs
Malia Romes (Rutgers, MB) – 14 kills, .379 hitting %, 4 blocks

No. 9 Texas vs. No. 15 USC

Texas gave the SEC a final win on day two when they swept Southern California (25-16, 25-21, 25-20) in a statement home win.

An early series of ties in the first set was ultimately broken by a Longhorn 6-1 run, which they maintained for the rest of the set. Set two was similar; the teams matched runs until Texas pulled away at the end. The Spartans started the third set strong, going up 8-2 early before the Longhorns started chipping away, and went on an 11-3 run to tie and ultimately take the lead and the match.

Texas finished the Challenge 1-0 and USC went 0-1.

Standout Performances

Cari Spears (Texas, OH) – 17 kills, .464 hitting %, 2 service aces, 2 blocks
Nya Bunton (Texas, MB) – 4 kills, 0 errors, .308 hitting %, 8 blocks
London Wijay (USC, OH) – 11 kills, .241 hitting %, 2 blocks
Leah Ford (USC, MB) – 5 kills, 5 blocks

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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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