No. 14 Penn State women's volleyball was wrapped up its non-conference slate of the 2026 season and it's all Big Ten play from hereon out until the postseason. The Nittany Lions hold an 8-2 overall record, sustaining losses to Kentucky and Tennessee, and go on the road for their first in-conference match.
Michigan isn't a ranked team in the AVCA Poll, but the Wolverines made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025 and proved they weren't a team to overlook. They swept Xavier in the first round of the tournament and lost to Pittsburgh in the second round.
It's not just Michigan Penn State faces this weekend. The Nittany Lions have a full Big Ten trip in the state, visiting Michigan State on Sunday. Unlike the Wolverines, the Spartans did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but they are on the bubble of teams in the poll. They received 44 votes in the latest poll, which counted games played through Sept. 20.
Penn State takes on Michigan and Michigan State to start Big Ten play in 2026
Ella Dematrician is the toughest hitter for Michigan, having racked up 165 kills on the season. She also leads the team in points with 181.5, has made 97 digs (second-most on the team), and has put up 18 total blocks. However, Penn State libero Ava Falduto has had plenty of tests throughout the season and faces hitters, like Kennedy Martin and Whitney Lauenstein, every practice. Dematrician is the Wolverine's top attacker, but she doesn't have anything Falduto hasn't seen.
The Nittany Lions have too many offensive weapons in Martin, Lauenstein, Ryla Jones, Haley Burgdorf, and Finley Krystkowiak (just to name a few) to lose this match. They already upset Stanford with a sweep this season, so it's hard to believe Michigan will take this one. This should be a good start to conference play for Penn State. A sweep might be a tough ask, but the Wolverines pushing it to five sets seems a bit unlikely too.
Prediction at Michigan: 3-1, Penn State
For Sunday's match, the Nittany Lions have a tougher opponent. Michigan State is undefeated with a 10-0 record, but what the Spartans don't have is a ranked opponent win on their record already. They have yet to prove themselves and secure that statement win, but Penn State could come off a heater vs. Michigan just a couple days prior.
If the Nittany Lions beat the Wolverines, that's a ton of momentum and not a ton of ground to cover heading over to East Lansing. Michigan State might look better on paper, but Penn State has already proved it can compete with the best. The blue and white being the Spartans' statement win is unlikely.
One thing to expect, though, from both sides of the net is a diverse offense. Michigan State has a few attackers in Karolina Staniszewska, Alanna Bankston, Hayley Ogden, and Carmen Waye who setter Malayah Long can target throughout the match. It'll be a fun matchup between these two offenses, so it will really come down to defense. Penn State just has better experience defensively early on this season.
Prediction at Michigan State: 3-0, Penn State
Friday's match can be watched on Big Ten+ with first serve slated for 7 p.m. EDT at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Sunday's match is also on the road at Breslin Center in East Lansing. That game can be watched on Big Ten Network with first serve set for 2 p.m. EDT.
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