Big Ten Conference women's volleyball is made up of the women's volleyball programs from the Big Ten Conference's 18 member universities. Through 2024, the Big Ten has earned a combined 40 NCAA national semifinal appearances by eight different teams. In 1987, Illinois became the first Big Ten program to make an appearance in the national semifinal. In 1999 Penn State won the conference's first national championship, and they have won eight overall, including a record four consecutive titles from 2007 to 2010. The Big Ten conference claims eleven women's volleyball national championships overall with Penn State having won eight, Nebraska having won two, and Wisconsin having won one. Penn State (eleven times), Nebraska (four times), Wisconsin (four times), Minnesota (one time), and Illinois (one time) have each made national championship game appearances as members of the Big Ten.

In 2011, former Big 12 member Nebraska joined the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers have won five national championships, with two of these coming since the school joined the Big Ten. Rutgers University and the University of Maryland joined the Big Ten in July 2014, and on August 2, 2024, the Big Ten Conference announced the formal admission of the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, UCLA, and USC from the recently dissolved Pac-12 Conference.

Teams

SchoolHead coachBig Ten titles†National semifinal appearancesBest NCAA finish
Penn StateKatie Schumacher-Cawley18 (1992, 1993, 1996–99, 2003–10, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2024)14 (1993, 1994, 1997–99, 2007–10, 2012–14, 2017, 2024)Champions (1999, 2007–10, 2013, 2014, 2024)
NebraskaDani Busboom Kelly6 (2011, 2016, 2017, 2023-2025)18 (1986*, 1989*, 1990*, 1995*, 1996*, 1998*, 2000*, 2001*, 2005*, 2006*, 2008*, 2015–18, 2021, 2023-24)Champions (1995*, 2000*, 2006*, 2015, 2017)
WisconsinKelly Sheffield9 (1990, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2014, 2019–22)6 (2000, 2013, 2019–21, 2023)Champions (2021)
IllinoisChris Tamas4 (1986–88, 1992)4 (1987, 1988, 2011, 2018)Runner-up (2011)
Ohio StateJen Flynn Oldenburg3 (1989, 1991, 1994)2 (1991, 1994)National semifinal (1991, 1994)
Michigan StateKristen Kelsay2 (1995, 1996)1 (1995)National semifinal (1995)
MinnesotaKeegan Cook3 (2002, 2015, 2018)6 (2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019)Runner-up (2004)
PurdueDave Shondell1 (1985)Regional final (2010, 2020, 2021)
MichiganErin Virtue1 (2012)National semifinal (2012)
IowaJim BarnesFirst Round (1989)
NorthwesternRegional semifinal (1981)
IndianaSteve AirdRegional semifinal (2010, 2025)
MarylandAdam HughesSecond Round (1996)
RutgersCaitlin SchweihoferQualifying round (1982)
OregonTrent Kersten1 (2012^)Runner-up (2012^)
UCLAAlfredo Reft12 (1981^, 1983^, 1984^, 1985^, 1988^, 1989^, 1990^, 1991^, 1992^, 1994^, 2006^, 2011^)Champions (1984^, 1990^, 1991^, 2011^)
USCBrad Keller10 (1981^, 1982^, 1985^, 2000^, 2002^, 2003^, 2004^, 2007^, 2010^, 2011^)Champions (1981^, 2002^, 2003^)
WashingtonLeslie Gabriel5 (2004^, 2005^, 2006^, 2013^, 2020^)Champions (2005^)

† Since 1985, when double round-robin play was introduced * As a member of the Big 12 ^ As a member of the Pac-12

Conference awards

YearCoach of the Year (media)School
Year Coach of the Year (media) School 1988 Mike Hebert Illinois 1989 Jim Stone Ohio State 1990 Steve Lowe Wisconsin 1991 Jim Stone Ohio State 1992 1993 Russ Rose Penn State 1994 Jim Stone Ohio State 1995 Chuck Erbe Michigan State 1996 Russ Rose Penn State 1997 John Cook Russ Rose Wisconsin Penn State 1998 Russ Rose Penn State 1999 Mike Hebert Minnesota 2000 2001 Pete Waite Wisconsin 2002 Mike Hebert Minnesota 2003 Don Hardin Russ Rose Illinois Penn State 2004 Jim Stone Ohio State 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Russ Rose Penn State 2011 Dave Shondell Purdue 2012 2013 Russ Rose Penn State 2014 Kelly Sheffield Wisconsin 2015 Hugh McCutcheon Minnesota 2016 John Cook Nebraska 2017 John Cook Russ Rose Nebraska Penn State 2018 Hugh McCutcheon Minnesota 2019 Russ Rose Penn State 2020 Jen Flynn Oldenburg Ohio State 2021 Dave Shondell Purdue 2022 Kelly Sheffield Wisconsin 2023 John Cook Nebraska 2024 Katie Schumacher-Cawley Penn State 2025 Dani Busboom Kelly NebraskaYear Player of the Year School 1983 Martie Larsen Minnesota 1984 1985 Marianne Smith Purdue 1986 Mary Eggers Illinois 1987 Mary Eggers Nancy Brookhart Illinois Illinois 1988 Mary Eggers Illinois 1989 Holly O'Leary Ohio State 1990 Lisa Boyd Wisconsin 1991 Lelsa Wissler Ohio State 1992 Leanne Kling Penn State 1993 Salima Davidson Penn State 1994 Laura Davis Ohio State 1995 Terri Zemaitis Penn State 1996 Vanessa Wouters Ohio State 1997 1998 Bonnie Bremner Penn State 1999 Lauren Cacciamani Penn State 2000 Nicole Branagh Sherisa Livingston Minnesota Wisconsin 2001 Lizzy Fitzgerald Wisconsin 2002 Stacey Gordon Ohio State 2003 Cassie Busse Minnesota 2004 Stacey Gordon Ohio State 2005 Sam Tortorello Penn State 2006 Megan Hodge Penn State 2007 Christa Harmotto Penn State 2008 Nicole Fawcett Penn State 2009 Megan Hodge Penn State 2010 Blair Brown Penn State 2011 Ariel Turner Purdue 2012 Ariel Scott Penn State 2013 Kelsey Robinson Nebraska 2014 Lauren Carlini Wisconsin 2015 Daly Santana Minnesota 2016 Sarah Wilhite Minnesota 2017 Simone Lee Penn State 2018 Samantha Seliger-Swenson Minnesota 2019 Dana Rettke Wisconsin 2020 2021 Stephanie Samedy Minnesota 2022 Taylor Landfair Minnesota 2023 2024 Sarah Franklin Wisconsin 2025 Bergen Reilly NebraskaYear Freshman of the Year School 1983 Kathy Greishelm Iowa 1984 Karen Dunham Indiana 1985 Mary Eggers Illinois 1986 Debbie McDonald Purdue 1987 Dawn Thompson Minnesota 1988 Lelsa Wissler Ohio State 1989 Sheri Stout Indiana 1990 Kristin Henriksen Illinois 1991 Laura Davis Ohio State 1992 Jenny Jackson Ohio State 1993 Katrien DeDecker Minnesota 1994 Erin Borske Illinois 1995 Jenna Wrobel Michigan State 1996 Bonnie Bremner Penn State 1997 Dana Stearns Ohio State 1998 Sherisa Livingston Wisconsin 1999 Katie Virtue Ohio State 2000 Claudia Rodriguez Wisconsin 2001 Stacey Gordon Ohio State 2002 Sam Tortorello Penn State 2003 Cassy Salyer Penn State 2004 Kate Price Penn State 2005 Nicole Fawcett Penn State 2006 Megan Hodge Penn State 2007 Arielle Wilson Penn State 2008 Michelle Bartsch Illinois 2009 Darcy Dorton Penn State 2010 Deja McClendon Penn State 2011 Micha Hancock Penn State 2012 Megan Courtney Penn State 2013 Lauren Carlini Wisconsin 2014 Haleigh Washington Penn State 2015 Samantha Seliger-Swenson Minnesota 2016 Molly Haggerty Wisconsin 2017 Dana Rettke Wisconsin 2018 Jonni Parker Penn State 2019 Madi Kubik Nebraska 2020 Emily Londot Ohio State 2021 Julia Orzol Wisconsin 2022 Eva Hudson Purdue 2023 Harper Murray Nebraska 2024 Izzy Starck Penn State 2025 Alanah Clemente Oregon
1988Mike HebertIllinois
1989Jim StoneOhio State
1990Steve LoweWisconsin
1991Jim StoneOhio State
1992 1993Russ RosePenn State
1994Jim StoneOhio State
1995Chuck ErbeMichigan State
1996Russ RosePenn State
1997John Cook Russ RoseWisconsin Penn State
1998Russ RosePenn State
1999Mike HebertMinnesota
2000 2001Pete WaiteWisconsin
2002Mike HebertMinnesota
2003Don Hardin Russ RoseIllinois Penn State
2004Jim StoneOhio State
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Russ RosePenn State
2011Dave ShondellPurdue
2012 2013Russ RosePenn State
2014Kelly SheffieldWisconsin
2015Hugh McCutcheonMinnesota
2016John CookNebraska
2017John Cook Russ RoseNebraska Penn State
2018Hugh McCutcheonMinnesota
2019Russ RosePenn State
2020Jen Flynn OldenburgOhio State
2021Dave ShondellPurdue
2022Kelly SheffieldWisconsin
2023John CookNebraska
2024Katie Schumacher-CawleyPenn State
2025Dani Busboom KellyNebraska
YearPlayer of the YearSchool
1983Martie LarsenMinnesota
1984 1985Marianne SmithPurdue
1986Mary EggersIllinois
1987Mary Eggers Nancy BrookhartIllinois Illinois
1988Mary EggersIllinois
1989Holly O'LearyOhio State
1990Lisa BoydWisconsin
1991Lelsa WisslerOhio State
1992Leanne KlingPenn State
1993Salima DavidsonPenn State
1994Laura DavisOhio State
1995Terri ZemaitisPenn State
1996Vanessa WoutersOhio State
1997 1998Bonnie BremnerPenn State
1999Lauren CacciamaniPenn State
2000Nicole Branagh Sherisa LivingstonMinnesota Wisconsin
2001Lizzy FitzgeraldWisconsin
2002Stacey GordonOhio State
2003Cassie BusseMinnesota
2004Stacey GordonOhio State
2005Sam TortorelloPenn State
2006Megan HodgePenn State
2007Christa HarmottoPenn State
2008Nicole FawcettPenn State
2009Megan HodgePenn State
2010Blair BrownPenn State
2011Ariel TurnerPurdue
2012Ariel ScottPenn State
2013Kelsey RobinsonNebraska
2014Lauren CarliniWisconsin
2015Daly SantanaMinnesota
2016Sarah WilhiteMinnesota
2017Simone LeePenn State
2018Samantha Seliger-SwensonMinnesota
2019Dana RettkeWisconsin
2020 2021Stephanie SamedyMinnesota
2022Taylor LandfairMinnesota
2023 2024Sarah FranklinWisconsin
2025Bergen ReillyNebraska
YearFreshman of the YearSchool
1983Kathy GreishelmIowa
1984Karen DunhamIndiana
1985Mary EggersIllinois
1986Debbie McDonaldPurdue
1987Dawn ThompsonMinnesota
1988Lelsa WisslerOhio State
1989Sheri StoutIndiana
1990Kristin HenriksenIllinois
1991Laura DavisOhio State
1992Jenny JacksonOhio State
1993Katrien DeDeckerMinnesota
1994Erin BorskeIllinois
1995Jenna WrobelMichigan State
1996Bonnie BremnerPenn State
1997Dana StearnsOhio State
1998Sherisa LivingstonWisconsin
1999Katie VirtueOhio State
2000Claudia RodriguezWisconsin
2001Stacey GordonOhio State
2002Sam TortorelloPenn State
2003Cassy SalyerPenn State
2004Kate PricePenn State
2005Nicole FawcettPenn State
2006Megan HodgePenn State
2007Arielle WilsonPenn State
2008Michelle BartschIllinois
2009Darcy DortonPenn State
2010Deja McClendonPenn State
2011Micha HancockPenn State
2012Megan CourtneyPenn State
2013Lauren CarliniWisconsin
2014Haleigh WashingtonPenn State
2015Samantha Seliger-SwensonMinnesota
2016Molly HaggertyWisconsin
2017Dana RettkeWisconsin
2018Jonni ParkerPenn State
2019Madi KubikNebraska
2020Emily LondotOhio State
2021Julia OrzolWisconsin
2022Eva HudsonPurdue
2023Harper MurrayNebraska
2024Izzy StarckPenn State
2025Alanah ClementeOregon
YearSetter of the YearSchool
Year Setter of the Year School 2012 2013 Micha Hancock Penn State 2014 2015 Lauren Carlini Wisconsin 2016 Samantha Seliger-Swenson Minnesota 2017 Kelly Hunter Nebraska 2018 Jordyn Poulter Samantha Seliger-Swenson Illinois Minnesota 2019 2020 2021 Sydney Hilley Wisconsin 2022 Mac Podraza Ohio State 2023 2024 2025 Bergen Reilly NebraskaYear Defensive Player of the Year School 2001 Shaddia Haddad Illinois 2002 2003 2004 Paula Gentil Minnesota 2005 Kaleena Walters Penn State 2006 Malama Peniata Minnesota 2007 Stesha Selsky Michigan 2008 Christine Tan Minnesota 2009 Kate Nobilio Northwestern 2010 Jessica Granquist Minnesota 2011 Katie Slay Penn State 2012 2013 Kori Moster Michigan State 2014 Taylor Morey Wisconsin 2015 2016 Justine Wong-Orantes Nebraska 2017 Haleigh Washington Penn State 2018 2019 Kendall White Penn State 2020 Jena Otec Purdue 2021 Lexi Rodriguez Nebraska 2022 Kylie Murr Ohio State 2023 2024 Lexi Rodriguez Nebraska 2025 Gillian Grimes Penn State
2012 2013Micha HancockPenn State
2014 2015Lauren CarliniWisconsin
2016Samantha Seliger-SwensonMinnesota
2017Kelly HunterNebraska
2018Jordyn Poulter Samantha Seliger-SwensonIllinois Minnesota
2019 2020 2021Sydney HilleyWisconsin
2022Mac PodrazaOhio State
2023 2024 2025Bergen ReillyNebraska
YearDefensive Player of the YearSchool
2001Shaddia HaddadIllinois
2002 2003 2004Paula GentilMinnesota
2005Kaleena WaltersPenn State
2006Malama PeniataMinnesota
2007Stesha SelskyMichigan
2008Christine TanMinnesota
2009Kate NobilioNorthwestern
2010Jessica GranquistMinnesota
2011Katie SlayPenn State
2012 2013Kori MosterMichigan State
2014Taylor MoreyWisconsin
2015 2016Justine Wong-OrantesNebraska
2017Haleigh WashingtonPenn State
2018 2019Kendall WhitePenn State
2020Jena OtecPurdue
2021Lexi RodriguezNebraska
2022Kylie MurrOhio State
2023 2024Lexi RodriguezNebraska
2025Gillian GrimesPenn State

Big Ten volleyball in the AVCA

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) annually awards National Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year. Since 2025, they also recognized positional national player of the year awards. The following lists coaches and players from the Big Ten who have received these awards.

National Coach of the Year

National Player of the Year

National Freshman of the Year

Positional Awards

In 2025, the AVCA announced they will begin awarding positional awards in addition to the historical National Freshman, Coach, and Player of the Year Awards. The following players have received these awards from the Big Ten Conference:

Outside Hitter of the Year

  • 2025 – Mimi Coyler, Wisconsin

Setter of the Year

  • 2025 – Bergen Reilly, Nebraska

Middle Blocker of the Year

  • 2025 – Andi Jackson, Nebraska

External links