UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 25 Penn State women's volleyball is on the road for a pair of Big Ten matches this weekend. The Nittany Lions make the trip to West Lafayette to play No. 9 Purdue on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET, and then head to Champaign to play Illinois on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Friday's match will stream on B1G+, while Sunday's match airs live on B1G Network.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, Nov. 7 | 5:30 p.m. ET
No. 25 Penn State (13-9, 7-5 B1G) at No. 9 Purdue (19-3, 10-2 B1G) | Live Stats | B1G+
Sunday, Nov. 9 | 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 25 Penn State (13-9, 7-5 B1G) at Illinois (12-9, 7-5 B1G) | Live Stats | B1G Network
OPENING NOTES
• Despite the losses to Michigan and Indiana last week, the Nittany Lions have won six of their past nine matches, including three wins on the road.
• Penn State is tied for sixth in the Big Ten standings but sits just one match back of fifth place and two back of third place.
SERIES HISTORY - PURDUE
• Penn State is 62-11 in the all-time series with Purdue. The teams first played in 1981.
• Penn State is 29-5 in road matches against the Boilermakers.
• Penn State swept Purdue twice last season. The Boilermakers were ranked in the top 10 going in to both matches.
• The Nittany Lions are 4-2 against Purdue under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
• Gillian Grimes has averaged 3.46 digs/set and is 93-94 (.989) on serve receive in six career matches against the Boilermakers. Maggie Mendelson has hit .452 while averaging 2.67 kills/set and 0.83 blocks/set in two career matches in the series.
SCOUTING PURDUE
• Purdue is 19-3 overall and 10-2 in the Big Ten following six straight wins over No. 22 Indiana (3-1), Rutgers (3-0), Illinois (3-0), No. 20 Minnesota (3-2), Michigan State (3-2), and Michigan (3-2).
• The Boilermakers were picked seventh in the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Poll. They are currently in second place through 12 matches.
• Junior outside hitter Kenna Wollard ranks third in the Big Ten in points/set (5.06) and kills/set (4.58.
SERIES HISTORY - ILLINOIS
• Penn State is 52-13 in the all-time series with Illinois. The teams first played in 1981.
• The Nittany Lions have won seven of the past nine matches in the series since 2019, including a 3-0 sweep at Rec Hall last season. Maggie Mendelson hit .500 with six kills and four blocks in that match.
• Penn State is 21-9 in road matches against Illinois.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
• Illinois is 12-9 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten after losing four straight matches to No. 11 Purdue (3-0), Michigan (3-0), No. 20 Minnesota (3-0), and Iowa (3-2).
• The Illini were picked ninth in the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Poll. They are currently tied for sixth through 12 matches.
STREAKS TO WATCH
Gillian Grimes
· 86 straight starts at libero
· 3 straight matches with double-digit digs
Kennedy Martin
· 73 straight matches with double-digit kills when playing at least three sets
· 3 straight matches with double-doubles
TOP-10 WINS
• Penn State looks to add to its list of top-10 wins under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley. The Nittany Lions have defeated 11 teams ranked in the top 10 of the AVCA Coaches Poll during her four seasons as the head coach.
CAREER HIGHS SET LAST WEEK
at Michigan
Lexi Gin - aces (1)
Gabrielle Nichols - digs (2), blocks (8)
vs. No. 24 Indiana
Maggie Mendelson - assists (3)
Karis Willow - assists (2)
UP NEXT
• Penn State plays at No. 22 Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 14 and hosts Ohio State on Sunday, Nov. 16.
The 2025 Penn State women's volleyball season is presented by Musselman's.