1. WISCONSIN, last year’s (2019) national runner-up to Stanford, led by returning star setter Sidney Hilley (out of Champlain Park, MN) and returning star middle Dana Rettke, 6-8, deservedly opens their season ranked #1 in national polls.
2. NEBRASKA, perennial national power and 5-time national champion, opens their season ranked #5 in national polls.
3. MINNESOTA opens their season ranked #7 in national polls. I think they’re definitely top-four, but given that 2nd ranked Texas and 4th ranked Kentucky have already finished their seasons (as champions of major conferences) it may be tough to dislodge them in the polls.
4. PENN STATE, perennial national power and 7-time national champion (including 6 of the last 9), opens their season ranked #9 in national polls.
In recent years, Big Ten Volleyball has been a story of the BIG 4 (above), and teams striving to reach “BIG 5” status, including PURDUE (who opens their season ranked #13 in national polls), MICHIGAN (who opens their season ranked #24 in national polls), ILLINOIS, OHIO STATE & MICHIGAN STATE (all unranked).