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Big Ten Announces Volleyball Conference Tournament
The 15-team event will crown a postseason champion as the conference cuts regular-season matches from 20 to 17.
On Thursday, the Big Ten Conference announced it will hold its first women's volleyball postseason tournament featuring the top 15 teams from November 20-25, 2026, at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana.
Coaches unanimously supported the tournament to increase fairness and television inventory; Purdue coach Dave Shondell said the move was inspired by the SEC's conference tournament, which he said "appeared to go very well."
To accommodate the new event, the Big Ten will reduce its regular-season schedule from 20 to 17 matches in a single-round-robin format, utilizing a single-elimination bracket for the tournament.
Indiana Sports Corp President Patrick Talty said the partnership supports their "2050 Vision" of bringing major sporting events to Indiana while providing a "world-class experience for the student-athletes and fans."
Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield and Illinois coach Chris Tamas welcomed the tournament as a platform for athletes; scheduled to conclude eight days before the NCAA Tournament, the event aims to ensure teams remain prepared for national competition.