#BIGEASTvb Minute: Conference Action Hits The Homestretch
NEW YORK -- With just two weeks remaining in the BIG EAST volleyball regular season, 20 matches remain with two Championship berths up for grabs. No. 9 Marquette (23-3, 13-1 BIG EAST) and No. 14 Creighton (20-4, 13-1) are tied atop the league standings and have punched their tickets to the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep. Villanova sits in third-place (20-6, 11-3) while St. John's (17-10, 9-5) is in fourth-place. Butler (11-15, 8-6) and Xavier (10-14, 7-7) are still in the hunt with four matches remaining. The top four teams at seasons end qualify for the BIG EAST Championship hosted by Marquette University.
This Weekend on BEDN
Seton Hall at St. John's (Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. ET)
Watch: (
Caffeine |
YouTube)
Seton Hall and St. John's square off twice this weekend with Friday's matchup streamed live on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi. St. John's is coming off of a 2-0 weekend where the Red Storm knocked off Xavier and Butler in straight sets; while last weekend Seton Hall dropped two gritty five-set matches at Walsh Gym. Sophomore tandem Efrosini Alexakou and Rachele Rastelli lead the way for the Johnnies with 4.49 and 3.27 kills per set in conference action, respectively. Senior setter Erica Di Maulo is second in the BIG EAST in assists per set with 10.10 in conference matches. For the Pirates, Haylee Gasser and Julia Wilkins lead the way with 2.61 and 2.24 kills, respectively, while setter Maggie Cvelbar leads the offense dishing out 7.92 assists per set in conference play. Seton Hall leads the all-time series between the programs 17-14.
RPI Report
In the NCAA's RPI report released on Monday, the BIG EAST boasts two teams in the top-25. Marquette dropped two spots to No. 14 with a 23-3 record on the season, while Creighton also fell two spots to No. 19 with a 20-4 record. Villanova moved up six spots to 52 after a sweep of Creighton last weekend, while St. John's jumped two places to land at 76 to round out BIG EAST programs in the top-100.
In the Polls
In the latest AVCA rankings released on Monday, the BIG EAST boasted two programs ranked in the top-15. Marquette moved to No.9, while Creighton came in at No. 14.
National Stats Leaders
No. 9 Marquette appears in the top-15 national statistical rankings in four different categories. The Golden Eagles lead the nation in assists per set at 14.2 with a 15th-best 1,321 assists on the season. MU also ranks third nationally in kills per set at 14.86, while hitting at a 12th-best mark of .279. Individually, Marquette's Allie Barber ranks 15th in the country with 4.63 kills per set and 15th in total kills at 431. Providence's Allison Barber is one of only 13 players in Division I to record a triple double this season.
Upcoming #BIGEASTvb Schedule
Friday, November 15
PROVIDENCE at BUTLER at 6 p.m.
SETON HALL at ST. JOHN'S at 7 p.m. (
Caffeine |
YouTube)
VILLANOVA at DEPAUL at 8 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at No. 9 MARQUETTE at 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 16
No. 14 CREIGHTON at XAVIER at 1 p.m.
VILLANOVA at No. 9 MARQUETTE at 7 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at DEPAUL at 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 17
PROVIDENCE at XAVIER at 1 p.m.
ST. JOHN'S at SETON HALL at 1 p.m.
No. 14 CREIGHTON at BUTLER at 1 p.m.
All Times Eastern