#BIGEASTvb Championship Begins Friday On @BIGEASTdigital
BIG EAST Championship Notes (PDF)
MILWAUKEE – The 2017 BIG EAST Volleyball Championship presented by Jeep begins on Friday afternoon with No. 1 seed Creighton taking on No. 4 seed Villanova in the first semifinal, followed by No. 2 Marquette against No. 3 Butler in the second semifinal. The Golden Eagles are the host of the tournament, which will take place at the Al McGuire Center. The BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi will stream both semifinals on the FOX Sports Go app.
All the action from the Al McGuire Center will be called live by Bob Brainerd and Michelle Griffin-Wenzel.
Creighton enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and the three-time defending champion.
Matchup: No. 4 seed Villanova vs No. 1 seed Creighton
Time: 12:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ET
Live Stats: GameTracker
TV: BEDN
Meeting Notes: No. 1 seed Creighton won its fourth-straight BIG EAST regular season title outright on Saturday, finishing with a 16-2 league record, 23-6 overall. Creighton is the first team since Notre Dame to win four straight outright BIG EAST titles, with the Fighting Irish having done so from 1999-2002. One of Creighton’s two losses came to Villanova. Villanova won in straight sets, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20. Villanova closed out the season with back-to-back sweeps, over Creighton and Providence. Villanova finished with an 11-7 BIG EAST record and an 18-11 overall record. The Wildcats and Bluejays have met twice in tournament play with Creighton winning both matches, 3-0. The last time these two teams met in tournament action, Creighton won 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 to take the 2015 title. Villanova finished runner up. Creighton is 5-for-5 in qualifying for the BIG EAST Championship since joining the conference in 2013 and returns as the three-time defending champion. For the fourth-straight year, the Bluejays are the No. 1 seed. Creighton has only suffered one loss in the tournament, to Marquette, and is 3-1. It is Villanova’s 21st appearance in the tournament.
In The BIG EAST Championship: Third Meeting; Creighton leads the series 2-0; Last – 2015, Creighton won 3-0
Creighton In The BIG EAST Championship: 7-1; Fifth appearance (Last 2016); Three-time Champion (2014, 2015, 2016)
Villanova In The BIG EAST Championship: 22-30; 21st appearance (Last 2015); Two-time Runner Up (1997, 2015)
Matchup: No. 3 seed Butler at No. 2 seed Marquette
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET
Live Stats: GameTracker
TV: BEDN
Meeting Notes: No. 2 seed Marquette is making its 10th appearance in the tournament and are 7-8 overall. Since joining the league in 2005, Marquette has won the title once (2013) and was runner up in 2012. It is Marquette’s second time hosting the tournament since the new configuration of the conference. Marquette defeated Butler 3-1 the last time the two teams met in the tournament in 2013. Marquette returns to the tournament field as the No. 2 seed for the second straight year. The Golden Eagles finished with a 15-3 league record and a 21-8 overall record. Marquette’s 15 wins in BIG EAST action is the best mark for the squad since the 2013 campaign. Butler is making its second appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Bulldogs finished 13-5 in league play to secure the No. 3 seed. The 13-5 record is the best since joining the league in 2013. Last time Butler was in the tournament, the Bulldogs played against Marquette in Omaha, Neb. The Golden Eagles advanced and eventually won the championship. During the season this year, Butler and Marquette split the series. Marquette won the first meeting at Butler in straight sets, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20 on Sept. 20. The last time these two teams met in Milwaukee, the Bulldogs came away victorious in five sets, 20-25, 25-18, 28-30, 25-17, 15-11on Oct. 21.
In The BIG EAST Championship: Second Meeting; Marquette leads 1-0; Last – 2013, Marquette won 3-1
Marquette In The BIG EAST Championship: 7-8; 10th appearance (Last 2016); Champion (2013); Runner Up (2012)
Butler In The BIG EAST Championship: 0-1; Second appearance (Last 2013)
For more on the BIG EAST Volleyball Championship, visit the
Championship Central page.
2017 BIG EAST Volleyball Championship
Presented By Jeep
Semifinals - Nov. 24 - BEDN
No. 4 seed Villanova vs. No. 1 seed Creighton at 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT
No. 3 seed Butler at No. 2 seed Marquette at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT
Final - Nov. 25 - FS2
Semifinal Winners, 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT
All times listed are Eastern.