Michigan
Penn State
Michigan to Open Big Ten Play Hosting No. 14 Penn State, Washington
9/23/2026 11:39:00 AM | Volleyball
Promotions
Sept. 25
• Alumni Weekend
• Football Ticket Redemption -- Present your ticket for Saturday's (Sept. 26) Michigan vs. Iowa football game to receive free admission. *while inventory lasts*
Sept. 27
• Coming to Crisler -- The spotlight is on. Experience a Broadway-inspired night at Michigan volleyball.
• Football Ticket Redemption -- Present your ticket from Saturday's (Sept. 26) Michigan vs. Iowa football game to receive free admission. *while inventory lasts*
• Wolverine Kids Club Day
• Postmatch Autographs -- Following the match, members of the Michigan volleyball team will be available to sign autographs on the concourse. Limited to 200 fans; must pick up a wristband at Section 136 before the match to participate.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team (9-2) opens Big Ten action at home, hosting No. 14-ranked Penn State on Friday (Sept. 25) at 7 p.m. before welcoming Washington on Sunday (Sept. 27) at noon. Both matches will take place at Crisler Center. Friday's match against Penn State will stream live on B1G+, while Sunday's match against Washington will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
Notes
• Michigan wrapped up non-conference action at home, defeating Eastern Michigan in four sets and sweeping Cornell twice last weekend. The Wolverines held the Big Red to under 20 points in five of the six sets and hit over .300 in all three matches. U-M holds a 9-2 record, dropping contests to ranked TCU and a five-setter to South Carolina.
• The Wolverine offense is one of the best in the Big Ten, leading the conference in kills per set and assists per set. U-M averages 14.51 kills and 13.74 assists per set, which are also top-10 marks nationally. In total kills and total assists, the Wolverines rank third in the Big Ten and in the NCAA top 100.
• Ella Demetrician has been a top hitter in the conference, ranking first in kills and points and second in kills per set and points per set. She is averaging 4.23 kills per set, more than 1.25 kills better than last season's average. The junior is also hitting more efficiently, boosting her hitting percentage by more than 50 points compared to last year.
• Cymarah Gordon is also among the Big Ten's best in kills, ranking fifth in total kills and 10th in kills per set. She joins Demetrician as the only Wolverines with triple-digit kills (142). She has already topped her total from last season, doing so in 45 fewer sets, and has matched her dig and point numbers from last year as well. In her third season, Gordon is averaging 4.04 points per set.
• Meredith Martin leads the Big Ten in digs per set, averaging 4.21. The freshman libero has double-digit digs in nine of the 11 matches this season and seven more in all 11, with a high of 23. Martin also ranks third in assists (50) and fifth in aces (six).
• Sydney Schnichels has found her stride over the last four matches, hitting above .350 in all four with double-digit kills in three. The senior outside hitter has 89 kills on a .271 hitting percentage, adding 12 aces and 18 blocks. Against Eastern Michigan, Schnichels tallied her first career double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.
• Ece Senyapici is the Wolverines' leading blocker this season, ranking fifth in the Big Ten in total blocks and 11th in blocks per set. Senyapici did not play at all last season but has played every set this year. She has at least three blocks in every match this season, with a high of eight while recording five in both matches against Cornell. Senyapici has added 39 kills on a .305 hitting percentage.
• Morgan Burke leads the Wolverines in assists and aces this season. Burke has 20 assists or more in 10 of Michigan's 11 matches, with a high of 32, and ranks seventh all-time in career assists. The senior has at least one ace in eight of the last nine matches, matching her career high with six against TCU on Sept. 11, and tallied seven over the two matches against Cornell.
• Jenna Hanes is hitting .436 this season with 59 kills and just eight errors on 117 swings. The junior hit .450 last year and is trailing her kills-per-set average from last year, but has improved her aces-per-set and digs-per-set numbers. Hanes has eight aces this season after 14 last season.
• Megan Ingersoll and Jaden Jones were the last two Wolverines to see action this season, making their collegiate debuts against Cornell. Ingersoll recorded her first career kill in the third set on Saturday, while Jones played in the final set on Sunday. All 17 Wolverines have now played this year, with seven seeing action in every set.
• Penn State enters Big Ten action with an 8-2 record but has played just one away match, sweeping DePaul. The Nittany Lions' losses have come to No. 3 Kentucky and No. 13 Tennessee. PSU has one ranked win this season, sweeping Stanford at a neutral site. All-time, Michigan is 7-57 against Penn State, but five of those wins have come at home, including an upset win last year in five sets.
• Washington is one of three undefeated teams in the Big Ten, holding a 9-0 record. The Huskies won their only away contest so far this season in four sets against Oklahoma as part of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge. Michigan leads the all-time series 3-2, including both matches since the Huskies joined the Big Ten. U-M swept Washington at home in 2024 before a reverse sweep in Seattle last season.
