Aug. 21, 2007
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The 2007 edition of Big Ten volleyball gets underway Friday when all 11 conference teams hit the court, including Big Ten preseason favorite Penn State. The No. 3-ranked Nittany Lions will host No. 4 Texas for single matches on both Friday and Saturday evenings.
Nine conference teams will begin the 2007 campaign this weekend in tournament action, including Iowa, Northwestern and Wisconsin, who will each host events in their home arenas.
Penn State Could Be A Handful
Penn State, the four-time defending conference champion and preseason Big Ten favorite, is looking to add its fifth-straight league title in 2007. Last season, the Nittany Lions finished 32-3 overall, 18-2 in Big Ten play and fifth in the final national poll. PSU returns a host of talent from last year's squad, including Preseason All-Conference honorees Nicole Fawcett, Christa Harmotto and Megan Hodge -- last year's Big Ten Freshman and Player of the Year, as well as the AVCA National Freshman of the Year.
Five Schools Ranked in Nation's Top 25
Five Big Ten volleyball teams have been selected to the CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Tuesday. Penn State leads all conference teams at No. 3, followed by No. 9 Minnesota, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 13 Purdue and No. 16 Ohio State. Michigan and Michigan State begin their respective 2007 campaigns outside the top 25, but are receiving votes from the panel of coaches.
The Big Ten's five teams equal a league high among national conferences, as the Pac-10 also boasts five squads in the poll.
