Sept. 6, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Faces of the Big Ten
Lexi Zimmerman, Sr., Michigan
Barrington, Ill.
Lexi Zimmerman is on pace to become the most prolific setter in Michigan history this season, but that is only part of who she is. She was recently named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and is active in a number of different organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Bright Futures and coaches club volleyball. An environment major, Zimmerman looks for ways to improve the environment, like taking courses in Wyoming and writing letters to businesses encouraging them to use less energy.
First Serve
Big Ten volleyball teams enjoyed another strong weekend as the conference combined for a 26-6 record last weekend. Eight conference squads, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin, won team titles or were perfect in weekend action. Illinois and Minnesota each recorded wins over ranked opponents with Illinois knocking off No. 2 Texas and Minnesota defeating No. 20 Dayton over the weekend.
Where We Rank
Four Big Ten teams are once again ranked in the top 25 in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Poll. Penn State occupies the top spot for 42nd straight week with 55 of a possible 60 first-place votes, while Illinois moved up two spots and is No. 3 this week. Minnesota appears at No. 12, while Michigan is ranked No. 22. Ohio State and Michigan State received votes outside the top 25 this week.
Staying Perfect
Four Big Ten teams remain undefeated through the second weekend of action, with two squads having yet to lose a set. Three teams, Indiana, Penn State and Wisconsin, are each 6-0 on the season, while Illinois is 5-0 thus far in 2010. With six three-set wins, the Nittany Lions and Badgers have not dropped a set through six matches. Indiana is 6-0 for the first time since 2000, while Penn State extends its consecutive match winning streak to 108, and Wisconsin is off to its best start under 12th-year coach Pete Waite.
Spoiler Alert
With its win over then-No. 2 Texas on Friday, Illinois ended Texas' 25-match home winning streak and handed the Longhorns their first three-set loss at home since 2003. Now at 5-0, Illinois won its fourth match in school history against a top-five team with the 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 defeat of the second-ranked Longhorns.
This and That...
With five wins in its first six matches, Iowa is off to the second-best start in program history ... With its win against Pittsburgh over the weekend, the Purdue volleyball team recorded its 700th victory in program history, including 143 wins under current coach Dave Shondell.
CLASS-y Group
Five Big Ten volleyball student-athletes were named candidates for the inaugural 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for volleyball. The award will be given annually to outstanding seniors who have demonstrated excellence in four areas - community, classroom, character and competition. Illinois' Laura DeBruler, Michigan's Lexi Zimmerman, Minnesota's Lauren Gibbemeyer, Northwestern's Sabel Moffett and Penn State's Arielle Wilson were listed among the 30 candidates, which will be narrowed to 10 midway through the season. The final group will be placed on the official ballot that will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans.
