Photo by: Rhea Nall
Volleyball To Meet Arkansas & Vanderbilt In Big Ten/SEC Challenge
Mar 30 | Women's Volleyball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers volleyball will take on Arkansas and Vanderbilt at Historic Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee in the inaugural Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week.
All 18 Big Ten schools and all 16 SEC institutions will match up beginning Tuesday, September 1, culminating with a historic outdoor doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Sunday, September 6 with Nebraska, Penn State, Missouri and Kentucky.
The Scarlet Knights will face the Razorbacks on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and take on the Commodores on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
"Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week culminating at Wrigley Field brings together the highest level of women's volleyball competition, at one of the most iconic venues in the country," said Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti. "As women's volleyball participation, sponsorship, attendance and viewership continue to grow, we look forward to providing this unique opportunity to showcase the exceptional competition."
"Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "This initiative not only elevates volleyball on a national stage but also underscores a continued growth and investment in women's athletics. We are proud to be part of an event that celebrates the competitive excellence of these student-athletes while helping shape an even more prominent future for women's athletics."
The Scarlet Knights welcome back 11 letterwinners alongside seven newcomers, including Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, Brooke Baldwin.
Last season, Rutgers surpassed its win total from the previous season nine games into the year, fueled by a seven-match win streak, the longest for the squad since 2012. The Scarlet Knights collected sweeps in six of the seven games. Against Saint Francis (PA), RU swung .456, marking the best hitting percentage by the Scarlet Knights in a rally-era match. In nonconference action, RU played to a 9-3 mark with seven sweeps and a 4-0 home mark. In Big Ten action, the Scarlet Knights set not only a school record for attendance, but the 8,000 to witness the Scarlet Knights take on No. 1 Nebraska at Jersey Mike's Arena marked the largest crowd to watch a volleyball match in the state of New Jersey. RU also picked up its first-ever Big Ten win over Ohio State, as the sweep marked the program's most since 2000 and the first time in either Big East or Big Ten play that the Scarlet Knights have held an opponent to under 20 in a match.
At the end of the 2025 season, Rutgers had captured the best hitting percentage and most aces of any team during the rally era. In Big Ten action, the Scarlet Knights posted the most assists and aces in a season since joining the league with Lily Bolen averaging the most assists per set in a Big Ten season. Additional season stat notables included Aspen Maxwell with the most kills per set since 2009, Natalie Robinson with the best hitting percentage since 2011, Bolen with the most assists and assists per set since 2012, and Maxwell with the most kills since 2013.
Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, X and Instagram.
All 18 Big Ten schools and all 16 SEC institutions will match up beginning Tuesday, September 1, culminating with a historic outdoor doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Sunday, September 6 with Nebraska, Penn State, Missouri and Kentucky.
The Scarlet Knights will face the Razorbacks on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and take on the Commodores on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
"Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week culminating at Wrigley Field brings together the highest level of women's volleyball competition, at one of the most iconic venues in the country," said Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti. "As women's volleyball participation, sponsorship, attendance and viewership continue to grow, we look forward to providing this unique opportunity to showcase the exceptional competition."
"Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "This initiative not only elevates volleyball on a national stage but also underscores a continued growth and investment in women's athletics. We are proud to be part of an event that celebrates the competitive excellence of these student-athletes while helping shape an even more prominent future for women's athletics."
The Scarlet Knights welcome back 11 letterwinners alongside seven newcomers, including Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, Brooke Baldwin.
Last season, Rutgers surpassed its win total from the previous season nine games into the year, fueled by a seven-match win streak, the longest for the squad since 2012. The Scarlet Knights collected sweeps in six of the seven games. Against Saint Francis (PA), RU swung .456, marking the best hitting percentage by the Scarlet Knights in a rally-era match. In nonconference action, RU played to a 9-3 mark with seven sweeps and a 4-0 home mark. In Big Ten action, the Scarlet Knights set not only a school record for attendance, but the 8,000 to witness the Scarlet Knights take on No. 1 Nebraska at Jersey Mike's Arena marked the largest crowd to watch a volleyball match in the state of New Jersey. RU also picked up its first-ever Big Ten win over Ohio State, as the sweep marked the program's most since 2000 and the first time in either Big East or Big Ten play that the Scarlet Knights have held an opponent to under 20 in a match.
At the end of the 2025 season, Rutgers had captured the best hitting percentage and most aces of any team during the rally era. In Big Ten action, the Scarlet Knights posted the most assists and aces in a season since joining the league with Lily Bolen averaging the most assists per set in a Big Ten season. Additional season stat notables included Aspen Maxwell with the most kills per set since 2009, Natalie Robinson with the best hitting percentage since 2011, Bolen with the most assists and assists per set since 2012, and Maxwell with the most kills since 2013.
Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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/ Women's VolleyballJersey Mic'd with Skylar George
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